Compare towns
Ayer vs Needham vs Hardwick vs Barre
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Hardwick | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
32,459Highest |
2,684Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Ayer 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.