What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harvard	Norton
People
Population	6,927Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
	Harvard and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norton 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 MA: 47.3%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton 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 67% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Norton
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.