Compare towns
Ayer vs Reading vs Devens vs Harvard
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%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Reading | Devens | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
25,612Highest |
1,723Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Devens 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens 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 about the MA average |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Reading and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Reading | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Reading Memorial High | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.