What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampstead	Ayer
People
Population	9,102Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampstead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average
	Ayer and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampstead School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
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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.