Compare towns
Hollis vs Ayer vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hollis | Ayer | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,603 |
8,645Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±5 27% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
| Hollis and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Hollis and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and North Hampton 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Ayer Shirley School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 5 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.