Compare towns
Harvard vs Rye vs Ayer vs Devens
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Rye | Ayer | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
5,611 |
8,645Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% 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±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Rye and Devens 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Harvard | Rye School District | 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 | 12 photos → | 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.