Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Rutland
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 most expensive homes ($534k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Rutland has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.5 4% above MA |
| Hanson and Rutland 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% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
14.7%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Rutland 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% MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% 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 |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.