What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Harvard has the shortest commute (32 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Harvard
People
Population	5,737Lowest	6,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Bolton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Harvard and Bolton 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	#28 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Harvard
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.