Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Lee
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%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Harvard | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Ayer and Lee 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Lee |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.