Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Hardwick | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
2,684 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$556,800±$96kHighest about the MA average |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.