Compare towns
Devens vs Harvard vs Topsfield
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 the most people working from home (44.8%).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Devens | Harvard | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
6,927Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Devens and Harvard 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%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%±1.9Lowest 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±$63kLowest 82% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Harvard and Topsfield 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 |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 15% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Devens and Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Harvard | Topsfield |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| 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.