Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ayer vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Ayer | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
8,645Highest |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
| Hardwick and Barre 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre 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±$15k about the MA average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
| Barre and Ayer 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 |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Ayer and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Barre 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.