Compare towns
Ayer vs Hanson vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Rutland 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Hanson 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hanson 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 |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Whitman-Hanson | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.