Compare towns

Harvard vs Danvers vs Littleton

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 people working from home (44.8%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

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.

MeasureHarvardDanversLittleton
People
Population
6,927Lowest
28,098Highest
10,280
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+13.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7
10% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
43.5±2Lowest
9% above MA
Danvers 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
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Littleton and Harvard 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%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
59.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Littleton and Danvers 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
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$149,722±$31k
44% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$658,300±$40k
17% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$2,016±$507
14% above MA
Danvers and Littleton 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
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$9,458
58% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.7%±13.4
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Littleton 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%
4.8%
MA: 10%
5.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
14% above MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #52 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Littleton
High school in town The Bromfield High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Littleton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
12.8
13.1Highest
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.