Compare towns
Ayer vs Lancaster vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering AyerDevens
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Lancaster | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
8,606Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.