Compare towns
Ayer vs Hatfield vs Whately
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Whately has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,325 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately 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%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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±$15k about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Whately and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Ayer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Hatfield 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Whately 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 | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hatfield | Whately |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.