Compare towns
Ayer vs Salisbury vs Seabrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 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 | Salisbury | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,281Highest |
8,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 39% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| 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±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,785Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Triton | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.