Compare towns
Harvard vs Ledyard vs Ayer vs Devens
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%).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Ledyard | Ayer | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
15,433Highest |
8,645 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard and Harvard 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ledyard 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% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens and Ledyard 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. |
$107,975±$10k 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Ledyard and Devens 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. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Harvard 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Harvard | Ledyard School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Ledyard High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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.