What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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 Falls	Ayer
People
Population	2,328Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton Falls and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton Falls 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton Falls School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.