Compare towns
Ayer vs Thompson vs Hanson
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Thompson | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
9,337 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Ayer 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Hanson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Ayer 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
7.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.