Compare towns
Harvard vs Strafford vs Devens
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%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Strafford | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
4,306 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Devens 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 165% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| 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 151% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Devens 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harvard | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.