Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hanson | Ayer | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,645 |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest 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 |
$119,211±$24k 15% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$513,000±$55k 9% below MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,429Highest 7% above 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #149 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 → | None yet |
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.