Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Maynard vs Devens
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 renters (41.9% rent).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Hardwick | Maynard | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,684 |
10,712Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Devens 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Maynard 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Maynard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Maynard | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Maynard High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.