What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).

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	South Hampton	Ayer
People
Population	984Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ayer and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
	South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,109Highest 192% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer and South Hampton 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	—	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	South Hampton School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.