Compare towns
Harvard vs Middlesex vs Devens 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 people working from home (44.8%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Middlesex | Devens | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,943 |
1,723Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Devens and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Devens 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | — | 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.