Compare towns
Boxborough vs Newfields 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
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Boxborough | Newfields | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496 |
2,023Lowest |
6,927Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harvard and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kLowest 79% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Boxborough and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Newfields School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.