Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Devens | Exeter | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723Lowest |
7,195Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Devens 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% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Exeter 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Devens and Exeter 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. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Devens and Exeter 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. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Devens 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% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — | #14 of 38 in RI | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Exeter-West Greenwich | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.