Compare towns
Ayer vs Dunstable vs Harvard vs Devens
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%).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Dunstable | Harvard | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
3,408 |
6,927 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens 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% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Dunstable 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Devens 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 |
$208,512±$23k 101% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Harvard and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.