Compare towns
Harvard vs Sutton vs Union 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%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Sutton | Union | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
9,452Highest |
944Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Sutton 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Sutton | Union School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Sutton High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 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.