Compare towns
Harvard vs Needham vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Topsfield has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Needham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
32,459Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Harvard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$24k 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$195,718±$16kLowest 88% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kLowest 48% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Needham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.