Compare towns
Devens vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Worcester | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
207,055Highest |
8,645 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.2±2.8 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% |
19.6%±0.8 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%±5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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% |
35.2% 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% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Devens and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older 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 |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
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.