Compare towns
Harvard vs Danvers vs Ayer vs Norfolk
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 people working from home (44.8%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Ayer | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
28,098Highest |
8,645 |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Harvard 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Danvers 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
| Danvers and Norfolk 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ayer Shirley School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.