Compare towns
Devens vs Needham vs Ayer vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Needham | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,645 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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 | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.5 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.