What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).

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	Hingham	Ayer
People
Population	24,283Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hingham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hingham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hingham	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Hingham High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.