Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Townsend vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,723Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
| 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend 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 MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Devens 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 28% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Devens and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Devens 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 30% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Devens and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | North Middlesex | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.