Compare towns
Harvard vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
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 | Needham | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Harvard and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | 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 | 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.