Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ayer vs Bernardston
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 renters (31.8% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,684 |
8,645Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
| Bernardston and Hardwick 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% below MA |
| Ayer and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Bernardston 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 | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.