Compare towns
Morris vs Ayer vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Morris | Ayer | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164Lowest |
8,645Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Morris and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest 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+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Morris and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% 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 | $5,273 69% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | 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 → | 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.