Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ayer vs Devens vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Lancaster | Ayer | Devens | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,645Highest |
1,723Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Lancaster and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,556 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District | — | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
MA 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.