Compare towns
Harvard vs Acton vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Georgetown has the most affordable homes ($651k 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 | Harvard | Acton | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
24,155Highest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Georgetown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
| Harvard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Georgetown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Acton 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Acton-Boxborough | Georgetown |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.