Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett 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 the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Everett | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
50,045Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% 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%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1Highest |
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.