Compare towns
Sullivan vs Ayer vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 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 | Sullivan | Ayer | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
8,645 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Sullivan and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sullivan and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.