Compare towns
Harvard vs Hampton vs Ayer vs Shirley
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 most people working from home (44.8%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Hampton | Ayer | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,647Lowest |
8,645Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shirley 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Shirley 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.