Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Williamsburg vs Topsfield
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%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Williamsburg | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,189Highest |
2,694Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$195,718±$16k 88% 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±$41k about the MA average |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% 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 |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Williamsburg 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% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 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 |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg | 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 |
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.