Compare towns
Harvard vs Epping vs Norfolk 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%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Norfolk | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
7,430 |
11,673Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Norfolk 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Topsfield 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Norfolk 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #123 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Epping School District | King Philip · Millis | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
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.