Compare towns
Devens vs Middlesex vs Ayer 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
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Devens | Middlesex | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
1,943 |
3,098 |
6,927Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Devens and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below 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 | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 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 | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest 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 | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.