Compare towns
Devens vs Harvard vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Devens | Harvard | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,927 |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Marblehead and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Harvard | Marblehead |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.