Compare towns
Hull vs Ayer vs Hull
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Hull | Ayer | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,138Highest |
8,645Lowest |
10,138Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089Highest about the MA average |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 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 |
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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.