Compare towns
Ayer vs Colebrook vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Colebrook | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hardwick 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Hardwick 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Colebrook 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. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hardwick 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. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick 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. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Colebrook 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Colebrook School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.