Compare towns
Harvard vs Ayer vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Shirley | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,645Highest |
6,976 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Shirley and Harvard 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Ayer Shirley School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | 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.