Compare towns
Ayer vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Gardner | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
21,148Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Ayer and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Gardner | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Gardner High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
13.5Highest |
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.