Compare towns
Ayer vs Chaplin vs Barre 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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Chaplin | Barre | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,070Lowest |
5,572Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 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%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Hardwick 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. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Barre and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Barre 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. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Chaplin 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Chaplin 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.