Compare towns
Hardwick vs Ayer vs Ware vs Petersham
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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.
| Measure | Hardwick | Ayer | Ware | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684 |
8,645 |
10,048Highest |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest 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±$22k 28% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham 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±$67k 38% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400 27% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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 | 11% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Petersham 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | Petersham |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.