Compare towns
Ayer vs Hampton vs Union 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 expensive homes ($445k median).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Hampton | Union | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
1,647 |
944Lowest |
2,684 |
| 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. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Union 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. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Union 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick 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. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Hampton 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 | — | — | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton School District | Union School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.