Compare towns
Salisbury vs Ayer vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Salisbury | Ayer | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
8,645Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Ayer and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.