Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Russell
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%).
Russell has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
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 | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell 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% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Russell 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 |
$108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$303,300±$32kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,104 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.