Compare towns
Hampton vs Ayer vs Chaplin vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Hampton | Ayer | Chaplin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,645Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above 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±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Chaplin 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. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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 | Ayer Shirley School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.