Compare towns
Harvard vs Princeton vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Princeton | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
3,529Lowest |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
| Princeton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Harvard 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Shirley 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% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 106% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA |
| Shirley 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 |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 min 25% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Wachusett | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.