Compare towns
Ayer vs Glocester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Glocester has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Glocester | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
10,221Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Glocester 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Glocester 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. |
$113,508±$7kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Glocester 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. |
$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Glocester 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. |
$5,248Highest 68% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Glocester 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Ponaganset High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.