Compare towns
Harvard vs Deep River vs Georgetown vs Shirley
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%).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Deep River | Georgetown | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
4,458Lowest |
8,474Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Deep River and Shirley 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% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deep River and Shirley 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% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley 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. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Shirley 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. |
$6,092 95% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #70 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Valley Regional High School | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.