Compare towns
Harvard vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Springfield | Devens | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,122Lowest |
1,723 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% 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. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 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. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,946 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4%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% |
90.7%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. |
1985Highest 5 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. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | — | — | 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 | 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.