What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

West Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harvard	West Newbury
People
Population	6,927Highest	4,591Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA
	West Newbury and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and West Newbury 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%	21.3%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	West Newbury and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	West Newbury 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	$179,500±$27kLowest 73% above MA
	Harvard and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$808,200±$47kLowest 44% above MA
	Harvard and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA	$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA
	West Newbury 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	$9,240Lowest 54% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest MA: 10%	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	24.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#86 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Pentucket
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Pentucket Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	12 photos →	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.