Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Reading vs Upton
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%).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Reading | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
25,612Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Harvard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Reading | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Reading Memorial High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.