Compare towns
Harvard vs Nashua vs Norfolk
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%).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% 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 | Nashua | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
91,294Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Harvard 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% |
16.9%±1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nashua and Harvard 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% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nashua and Harvard 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. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Nashua 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. |
$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashua School District | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Nashua High School South | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.