Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Wayne vs Topsfield
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%).
Upton has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Wayne | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,189Highest |
1,101Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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 165% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| 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±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.