Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Ogunquit vs North Brookfield
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%).
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 | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,684 |
1,379Lowest |
4,760Highest |
| 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% |
+1.2% 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. |
45.2±9.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2 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% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±5 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% |
26.3%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% |
4.5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$79,285±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit 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 34% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$359,100±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
— | $981±$63Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,176Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and North Brookfield 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% |
12.9%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% |
69.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% 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% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | — | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | — | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.