Compare towns
Bartlett vs Ayer vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Bartlett | Ayer | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,281 |
8,645Highest |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7 48% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Ayer 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.