Compare towns
Ayer vs Harvard vs Webster vs Millbury
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Millbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Webster | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
17,748Highest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Harvard and Millbury 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Millbury 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Millbury 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Ayer 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Webster | Millbury |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Bartlett High School | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 29 photos → | None yet | 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.