Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Ogunquit vs Devens
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 renters (41.9% rent).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
2,684 |
1,379Lowest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Devens 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 | — | Quabbin | — | — |
| High school 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.