Compare towns
Harvard vs Wareham 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%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Wareham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
23,302Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Harvard 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Wareham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.