Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Springfield
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest 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% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,946 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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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.