Compare towns
Harvard vs Ogunquit vs Webster 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 highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Ogunquit | Webster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,379Lowest |
17,748Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Harvard 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Webster 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Webster | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | Bartlett High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.