Compare towns
Hampton vs Ayer vs Scotland
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,645Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| 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 |
44.7±5 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Scotland 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% |
16.4%±3Lowest 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% |
18.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% 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% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scotland and Ayer 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. |
$99,881±$12kLowest 24% 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. |
$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Hampton 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. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2Lowest 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 | Ayer Shirley School District | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.