Compare towns
Harvard vs Marshfield vs Ayer vs Lancaster
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 highest household income ($214k).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Marshfield | Ayer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
25,879Highest |
8,645 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Marshfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marshfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Marshfield 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 106% above MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Marshfield 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 |
$6,656 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Marshfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Marshfield High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.