Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Woonsocket 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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Upton | Woonsocket | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,189 |
43,521Highest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Woonsocket High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
15.2Highest |
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.