Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Norfolk
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 most people working from home (44.8%).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Harvard 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 |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 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%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | King Philip · Millis |
| 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.