Compare towns
Harvard vs Windham 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).
Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Windham | Ayer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,645 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above 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. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 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% |
3.4% 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% |
84.6% 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. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | RSU 14 | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Windham High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.5 |
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| 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.