Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Topsfield vs Georgetown
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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Georgetown has the most renters (16% rent).
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 | Upton | Topsfield | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,189 |
6,564Lowest |
8,474Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Georgetown 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
| 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 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Georgetown 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Georgetown 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Topsfield | Georgetown |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.2Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.