Compare towns
Ayer vs Hull vs Mashpee
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%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Mashpee has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hull | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,138 |
15,384Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
| Hull and Mashpee 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% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Mashpee 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% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
| Hull 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±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$562,200±$29k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,776±$330 about the MA average |
| Hull and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hull 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hull | Mashpee |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hull High | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
8.8Lowest |
9.6 |
| 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.