Compare towns
Harvard vs Jackson vs Devens
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 kids (21.1% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k 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 | Jackson | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
897Lowest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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. |
$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Devens 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. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Harvard 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% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Harvard | Jackson School District | — |
| 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 | 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.