Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Middleton vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Middleton | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927 |
9,816Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Ogunquit 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 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Ayer and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.