Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Sutton vs Hatfield
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sutton | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,684Lowest |
9,452Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Hardwick 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Hatfield 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,267±$216Highest 28% below MA |
| Hatfield and Ayer 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Quabbin | Sutton | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sutton High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.