Compare towns
Hull vs Ayer vs Cohasset
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 oldest population (median age 56.1).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).
Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Highest |
3,098Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cohasset 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 | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | — | Cohasset |
| High school in town | Hull High | — | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
— | 9.0Highest |
| 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.