Compare towns
Harvard vs Killingly vs Topsfield vs Norfolk
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 people working from home (44.8%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Killingly | Topsfield | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
17,867Highest |
6,564Lowest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
| 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±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Topsfield | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.