Compare towns
Harvard vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Harvard | Lowell | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
118,368Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below 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 |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Lowell 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 |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Lowell | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
14.8Highest |
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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.