Compare towns
Ayer vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,976 |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 about the MA average |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.