Compare towns
Ayer vs Ogunquit vs Shirley vs Harvard
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 the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Shirley | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,976 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Shirley 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.