Compare towns
Harvard vs Mendon vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (44.8%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Plainfield | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
6,325Lowest |
15,141Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Plainfield 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% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest 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% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% 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. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
27 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%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.