Compare towns
Harvard vs Hardwick vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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.
| Measure | Harvard | Hardwick | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
2,684Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
| Ayer and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Quabbin | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.