Compare towns
Harvard vs Thompson vs Ayer vs Lancaster
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Ayer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
9,337Highest |
8,645 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Thompson School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
7.9Lowest |
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.