What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harvard	Bristol
People
Population	6,927Lowest	61,462Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S.	37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Harvard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Harvard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol 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 165% above U.S.	$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.	$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S.
	Bristol and Harvard 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 221% above U.S.	$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#115 of 149 in CT
School district	Harvard	Bristol School District
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Bristol Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	6 photos →

U.S. 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.