Compare towns
Ayer vs Wayne vs Hardwick vs Warren
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Hardwick | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
1,101Lowest |
2,684 |
5,009Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Hardwick 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 7% below U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,600±$43kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$890±$174Lowest 37% 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 | $4,911Highest 57% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.