Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Warren
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).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,927 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% 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%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Warren 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%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Warren 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% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$15k about the MA average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% 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 |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.0 |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.