Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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 most expensive homes ($834k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,606 |
2,239Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.