Compare towns
Ayer vs Newfields vs Warren vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Warren | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
2,023Lowest |
5,009Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield 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% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Hatfield 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 7% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,530Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ayer and Newfields 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 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 | — | #165 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Newfields School District | Quaboag Regional | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.