Compare towns
Harvard vs Union vs Shirley
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%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% 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 | Union | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
944Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Union and Shirley 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Shirley 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Lowest 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Union School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.