Compare towns
Hull vs Ayer vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the highest household income ($115k).
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 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 | Hull | Ayer | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138 |
3,098Lowest |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Hull and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hull and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Highest about the MA average |
$4,911 18% below MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster and Ayer 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | — | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.