Compare towns
Harvard vs Windham vs Ayer vs Topsfield
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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
19,188Highest |
8,645 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% 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 |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield 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% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest 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. |
1969Lowest 11 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. |
28 min 4% 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% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #113 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | RSU 14 | Ayer Shirley School District | Topsfield |
| 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 | 29 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.