Compare towns
Ayer vs Sutton 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Ayer 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Sutton 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 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.