Compare towns
Ayer vs Hanson vs Douglas
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%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hanson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
1,927Lowest |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Douglas 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% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ayer 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 |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanson 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 |
$513,000±$55kHighest 9% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Hanson and Douglas 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 |
— | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer 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 |
$6,429Highest 7% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
— | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Douglas 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Douglas 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.