Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Barre vs Hardwick
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Barre | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,379Lowest |
5,572Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4 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%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older 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 |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #134 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | — | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.