Compare towns
Ayer vs Ayer vs Plainfield vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Ayer has the highest household income ($102k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Ayer | Ayer | Plainfield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
8,645 |
15,141Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainfield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.