Compare towns
Harvard vs Hampton vs Lancaster 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,606 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Harvard 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. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.1Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.