Compare towns
Ayer vs Townsend vs Warren vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Townsend | Warren | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
9,100Highest |
5,009 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ayer 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 21% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Ayer and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Townsend and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911 18% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Quaboag Regional | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.