Compare towns
Ayer vs Hull vs West Bridgewater
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 oldest population (median age 56.1).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 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 | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
10,138Highest |
7,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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 |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$123,406±$23kHighest 19% above MA |
| West Bridgewater and Hull 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 |
$503,800±$47k 10% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,921±$320 9% above MA |
| Hull and West Bridgewater 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$6,471Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and West Bridgewater 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest 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 | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hull | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hull High | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
8.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.