Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Hardwick vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
North Brookfield has the most homeowners (69.3%).
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 | Everett | Hardwick | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
50,045Highest |
2,684Lowest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 28% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Everett and North Brookfield 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and North Brookfield 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Quabbin | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | None in town | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| 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.