Compare towns
Harvard vs Hatfield vs Ogunquit 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).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hatfield | Ogunquit | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
3,325 |
1,379Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hatfield 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. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Harvard 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. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Hatfield | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Smith Academy | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
6.1Lowest |
— | 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.