What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).

Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).

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	Hampton	Ayer
People
Population	1,647Lowest	3,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S.	42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S.	$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S.	$444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S.
	Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S.	$4,911Highest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and Hampton 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
School district	Hampton School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.