Compare towns
Ayer vs Hanover vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Hanover | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
14,845 |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,342 56% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Reading |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.3 |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.