Compare towns
Harvard vs Hamilton vs Shirley
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%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Harvard | Hamilton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
7,600Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley 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 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton 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% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Shirley 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 |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Hamilton and Shirley 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Hamilton-Wenham | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.