Compare towns
Clinton vs Ayer vs Webster vs Easthampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 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 | Clinton | Ayer | Webster | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563 |
8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
16,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Webster 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
| Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Easthampton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5 |
11.6 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.