What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).

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	Hanson	Ayer
People
Population	10,660Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

MA 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.