Compare towns
Ayer vs Reading vs Hardwick vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Reading | Hardwick | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
25,612Highest |
2,684Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Hardwick and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$17k 28% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.