Compare towns
Ayer vs Epping 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 renters (41.9% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
7,430Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hardwick 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.