Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Wayne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
2,684 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±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%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Hardwick 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. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Hardwick 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±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% 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% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — |
| School district | — | Quabbin | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.