Compare towns
Harvard vs Mendon vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield
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 highest household income ($214k).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($616k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% 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 | Mendon | Ogunquit | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
6,325 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Ogunquit 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. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| 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±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37kLowest 85% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Harvard 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Mendon-Upton | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.