Compare towns
Ayer vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Shirley
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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Shirley has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Ware | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Hardwick and Shirley 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Shirley 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±$22k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$122,365±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Shirley 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±$119 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,156Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Shirley 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin | Ware | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.