Compare towns
Ayer vs Thompson vs Devens 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 most renters (30.8% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Thompson | Devens | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
9,337Highest |
1,723Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| 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±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Thompson School District | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | 11.0 |
| 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.