Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Newfields
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Newfields 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±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Newfields School District |
| 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 |
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.