Compare towns
Harvard vs Epping 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).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Epping | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
7,430 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Ayer 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Epping School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Epping High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.3Lowest |
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.