Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Rye 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.