Compare towns
Hampton vs Upton vs Ayer
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 most affordable homes ($296k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Upton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
8,189 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ayer 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.