Compare towns
Harvard vs Millis vs Putnam
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%).
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Millis | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,888 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Millis and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Putnam 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis and Putnam 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. |
$155,996±$9k 93% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$9,344 200% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Millis 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Harvard | Millis | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Millis High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.