Compare towns
Ayer vs Windsor Locks vs Warren vs Hatfield
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 people working from home (19.8%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Hatfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Windsor Locks | Warren | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098Lowest |
12,579Highest |
5,009 |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hatfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Hatfield 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$89,005±$25kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Windsor Locks 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Hatfield 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Quaboag Regional | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Quaboag Regional High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
10.0Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.