Compare towns
Harvard vs Middlesex vs Shirley
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).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,943Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Middlesex 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. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Middlesex 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 | — | #239 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 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.