Compare towns
Harvard vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Marblehead | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
20,413Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Marblehead and Harvard 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% 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±$54kLowest 48% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Marblehead 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% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Marblehead | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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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.