Compare towns
Ayer vs Devens vs Springfield vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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 | Devens | Springfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,723 |
1,122Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | — | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.