What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k 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	Foster
People
Population	6,927Highest	4,523Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.	47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S.
	Foster 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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard and Foster 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%	18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Foster 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%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Foster 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.	$113,646±$18kLowest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.	$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S.
	Foster 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.	$7,135Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	65.8%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard and Foster 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%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.	1975 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#22 of 38 in RI
School district	Harvard	Foster
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
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.