Compare towns
Harvard vs Epping 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%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
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 | Epping | Georgetown | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
7,430 |
8,474Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%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. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37% 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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% 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% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Epping 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% |
4.7% 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% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above 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% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #140 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Epping School District | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Epping High School | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.