Compare towns
Harvard vs Reading vs Walpole vs Devens
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%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k 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 | Reading | Walpole | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Devens and Harvard 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Walpole 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 |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
| Harvard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Harvard | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | — |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.