Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,684 |
25,612Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% 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%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Ayer 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Reading 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% |
66.3%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% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Devens and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% 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% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Reading | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Reading Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.