What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hardwick	Ayer
People
Population	2,684Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±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+	22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA	$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Lowest 27% below MA	$5,057Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hardwick and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#163 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Quabbin	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	None in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.