Compare towns
Ayer vs Hatfield vs Salisbury
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield 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% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Ayer and Salisbury 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 |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Ayer 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Salisbury 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hatfield | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Smith Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
6.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.