Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Harvard vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
50,045Highest |
6,927Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7% 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% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156 14% below 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% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Shirley 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% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% 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% |
21%±7.8 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Harvard | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.