Compare towns
Hopedale vs Ogunquit vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopedale has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Hopedale | Ogunquit | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,360 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,909±$18k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$44kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$233Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.3%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #125 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 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.