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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 |
8,645Lowest |
10,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% 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 |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Brewster 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 | Ayer Shirley School District | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.