What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

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	Ayer
People
Population	16,426Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest 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	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Lowest 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	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	11.5Highest
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.