Compare towns
Harvard vs Springfield vs Lancaster 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 expensive homes ($834k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Lancaster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,122Lowest |
8,606 |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% 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. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Harvard 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%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Springfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% 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% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Harvard 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% 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% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Nashoba | 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 | 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.