Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Ogunquit vs West Bridgewater
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 renters (30.8% rent).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
West Bridgewater has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Ogunquit | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
1,379Lowest |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.4±4.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.6 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% 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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and West Bridgewater 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$123,406±$23k 53% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$503,800±$47k 51% 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±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,921±$320Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,471 107% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and West Bridgewater 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older 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 |
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% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | — | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | — | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.