Compare towns
Ayer vs Rye vs Hardwick vs Barre
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Hardwick | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
5,611Highest |
2,684Lowest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hardwick 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Hardwick 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,030±$713Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 57% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #163 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Rye School District | Quabbin | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.