Compare towns
Ayer vs Worcester vs Hardwick vs Warren
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Worcester | Hardwick | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,098 |
207,055Highest |
2,684Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±6.9 5% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
38.7±7.3 3% below 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%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±5.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| 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 21% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,911Highest 18% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
— | 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.