Compare towns
Ayer vs Clinton vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ayer | Clinton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
15,563Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$89,781±$10kLowest 14% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,654Lowest 22% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Clinton | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Clinton Senior High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.