Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Webster vs Whitman
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,189 |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Webster 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Whitman 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.