Compare towns
Ayer vs Deerfield 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%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Ayer | Deerfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
5,158Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Deerfield and Harvard 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% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Frontier Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
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.