Compare towns
Ayer vs Newfields vs Hardwick
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 the most renters (41.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ayer 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | Newfields School District | Quabbin |
| 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.