Compare towns
Ayer vs East Hampton vs Suffield 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).
East Hampton has the highest household income ($125k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | East Hampton | Suffield | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
12,925 |
15,702Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| 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. |
43.6±3.7 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| East Hampton and Ayer 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% |
20.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and East Hampton 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% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and East Hampton 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. |
$124,577±$11kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| East Hampton and Suffield 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. |
$349,000±$14k 5% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Suffield 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. |
$1,393±$150 about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Suffield and East Hampton 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. |
$6,681Highest 114% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Suffield 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Suffield 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | East Hampton School District | Suffield School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | East Hampton High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.