What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($415k median).

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Deerfield	Harvard
People
Population	5,158Lowest	6,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA
	Deerfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Deerfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#156 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Harvard
High school in town	Frontier Regional	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	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.