Compare towns
Harvard vs Easthampton vs Ayer vs Georgetown
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%).
Easthampton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Easthampton | Ayer | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
16,086Highest |
8,645 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Easthampton 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% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Georgetown 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% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Easthampton | Ayer Shirley School District | Georgetown |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Easthampton High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.8 |
11.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.