Compare towns
Hampstead vs Ayer vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Hampstead | Ayer | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
8,645 |
8,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Litchfield and Hampstead 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% |
14.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest 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±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$485,000±$18k 46% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Litchfield 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,273 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Lowest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.