Compare towns
Ayer vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Woonsocket | Shirley | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
43,521Highest |
6,976 |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Harvard 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #239 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
15.2Highest |
— | 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.