Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Springfield
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 highest household income ($214k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Harvard and Ayer 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 | $5,057 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.