Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Pomfret
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 most people working from home (44.8%).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 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 | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Harvard 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% |
17.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% 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% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret 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. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Harvard 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. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Pomfret 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Pomfret 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 |
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| 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.