Compare towns
Harvard vs Nelson vs Georgetown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Georgetown has the most renters (16% rent).
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 | Nelson | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
648Lowest |
8,474Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Georgetown 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Georgetown 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Georgetown 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nelson School District | Georgetown |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.