What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Hull	Ayer
People
Population	10,138Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Hull and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,089Highest about the MA average	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hull and Ayer 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%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer and Hull 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
School district	Hull	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Hull High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.8Lowest	11.5Highest
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.