What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the shortest commute (32 min average).

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

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	Harvard	Bolton
People
Population	6,927Highest	5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton 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%	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Harvard and Bolton 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	$205,449±$31kLowest 98% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton 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	$796,000±$49kLowest 42% above MA
	Harvard and Bolton 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	$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA
	Bolton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Bolton 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	40.5%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Harvard and Bolton 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	#28 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Nashoba
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.