Compare towns

Harvard vs Littleton vs Norfolk

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%).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureHarvardLittletonNorfolk
People
Population
6,927Lowest
10,280
11,673Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
+13.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
43.5±2
9% above MA
41.6±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
Harvard and Littleton 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%
22.2%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
24.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Norfolk and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Littleton 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
MA: 47.3%
59.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Littleton 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
$149,722±$31kLowest
44% above MA
$200,720±$22k
93% above MA
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±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$658,300±$40kLowest
17% above MA
$725,200±$34k
29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$2,016±$507
14% above MA
$2,019±$598Highest
15% above MA
Norfolk and Littleton 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
$9,458Lowest
58% above MA
$9,651
61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
55.7%±13.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.1%±16
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
5.6%Highest
MA: 10%
2.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
83.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
11 yrs newer than MA
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
33 min
14% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±4.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32.6%±5.1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #52 of 282 in MA #123 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Littleton King Philip · Millis
High school in town The Bromfield High School Littleton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
13.1Highest
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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.