Compare towns
Harvard vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
2,227Lowest |
8,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Harvard 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Webster 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. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 | 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.