Compare towns
Harvard vs Ripton vs Topsfield vs Lynnfield
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 the most people working from home (44.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lynnfield has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Topsfield | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
508Lowest |
6,564 |
13,064Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$175,265±$23k 117% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Lynnfield and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Topsfield | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | — | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.