Compare towns
Harvard vs Washington vs Devens
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%).
Washington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
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 | Washington | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Highest |
3,676 |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Washington and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Devens 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. |
$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130k 98% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96kLowest 67% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Devens 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,556 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Harvard | Regional School District 12 | — |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Shepaug Valley School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.