Compare towns
South Hampton vs Ayer vs Dublin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | South Hampton | Ayer | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
8,645Highest |
1,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Dublin and South Hampton 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% 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% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Dublin 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±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Ayer 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.