Compare towns
Harvard vs Lowell vs Upton vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Upton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
118,368Highest |
8,189 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Lowell 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 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Lowell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Lowell High | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.2 |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
MA 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.