Compare towns
Devens vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
616Lowest |
8,645Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Plainfield and Devens 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 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%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 7% below MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,057 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% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | — | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5Highest |
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.