Ayer vs Harvard
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $550k more for a 4BR in Harvard, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $550k for three tiers of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Ayer works out roughly $11,100 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Ayer if you want the lower price, or you want a train.
All Ayer numbers →Choose Harvard if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Harvard numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsHarvard ahead on 4 of 8
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | top schoolsT1 |
| MCAS achievement | 45th | 92nd |
| Student growth | 48th | 56th |
| Graduation rate | 94.3% | 95.5% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Meeting or exceeding targets |
| Spending per pupil | $19,013 | $25,306 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 2 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 3 | 9 |
What a home costsAyer ahead on 6 of 7
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $550kT1 | $1.1MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $425k | $800k |
| 2BR condo | $315k | $590k |
| 3BR home | $617k | $836k |
| 3BR rent | $3,180/mo | $3,180/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $149k | $308k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.3% a year | 5.7% a year |
What you pay the townAyer ahead on 2 of 4
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $11.59T2 | $15.87T4 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$6,400 | ≈$17,500 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,716 | $5,004 |
| Share of budget on schools | 49% | 47% |
Getting to workAyer ahead on 1 of 3
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 68 minT4 | 66 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~72 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 30 mi | 29 mi |
Before kindergartenHarvard ahead on 1 of 4
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 7 | 6 |
| Child care places | 160 | 177 |
| Centers vs family programs | 2 centers | 4 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 20 | 29 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Ayer | Harvard | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,479 | 6,851 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 7/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
