Compare towns
Harvard vs Holden vs Topsfield
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%).
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Holden | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
20,064Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Topsfield 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% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Holden 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% |
58.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden 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 |
$141,923±$11kLowest 37% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| 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 25% below MA |
$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Holden 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 |
$6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #57 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Wachusett | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Wachusett Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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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.