Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Lunenburg
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Lunenburg 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lunenburg 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Lunenburg 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lunenburg 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% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.