Compare towns
Ayer vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Windham | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,098 |
23,961Highest |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Ayer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ayer 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. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Quabbin |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.