What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	6,927Lowest	12,487Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Derby and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard and Derby 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%	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Harvard 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%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby 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.	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average
	Derby 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.	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard and Derby 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%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%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.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Harvard	Derby School District
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.