Compare towns
Harvard vs Chaplin vs Devens vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Devens | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
2,070 |
1,723Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Devens 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. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Devens and Chaplin 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Parish Hill High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.