Compare towns

Harvard vs Rowley

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%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k 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.

MeasureHarvardRowley
People
Population
6,927Highest
6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Lowest
10% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
Rowley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Harvard and Rowley 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%
21.6%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%
56.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Rowley 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
$132,734±$32kLowest
28% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$667,300±$52kLowest
19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$1,603±$520Highest
9% below MA
Rowley 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
$8,309Lowest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
9% above MA
28 minLowest
3% below MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Triton
High school in town The Bromfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.