Compare towns
Devens vs Union 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% 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 | Union | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723 |
944Lowest |
8,645Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Union 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 134% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% 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 | $556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 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 | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Devens 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | Union School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | — | None 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 → |
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.