Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Warren vs Hardwick
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).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Harvard | Warren | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
6,927Highest |
5,009 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Harvard 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 28% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Harvard | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.