What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).

Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harvard	Townshend
People
Population	6,927Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend 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 U.S.: 22%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townshend 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%	52.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Harvard and Townshend 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.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harvard and Townshend 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	—
School district	Harvard	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	8.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.