Compare towns
Harvard vs Ayer vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Harvard | Ayer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
3,098Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.