Compare towns
Harvard vs Danielson vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Danielson | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
4,209Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 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+ | 16.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson 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 165% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Harvard 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.