Compare towns
Harvard vs Berlin vs Devens
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 most kids (21.1% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Berlin | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
3,378 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.6±4.3 22% above MA |
| Berlin and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% 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 | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Berlin and Devens 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest 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 | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Harvard | Berlin-Boylston | — |
| 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 | 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.