Compare towns

Harvard vs Fall River vs Norfolk

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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% 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.

MeasureHarvardFall RiverNorfolk
People
Population
6,927Lowest
94,082Highest
11,673
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
41.6±1.3
4% above MA
Harvard and Norfolk 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%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Norfolk and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
13.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Harvard and Fall River 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%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Fall River 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
106% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$200,720±$22k
93% above MA
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±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$725,200±$34k
29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424
25% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,019±$598Highest
15% above MA
Norfolk 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 67% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$9,651
61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.1%±16
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32.6%±5.1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #123 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical King Philip · Millis
High school in town The Bromfield High School B M C Durfee High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
11.3Highest
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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.