Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Putnam
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 the most people working from home (19.8%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Hardwick | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,684Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| 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. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Putnam 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ayer 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. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.