Compare towns
Harvard vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Meredith | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
6,758 |
6,564Lowest |
| 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±4.7 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above 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±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% 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% |
23.7%±4.9Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.