Compare towns

Harvard vs Westminster vs Devens

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%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Devens has the most renters (20.7% rent).

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.

MeasureHarvardWestminsterDevens
People
Population
6,927
8,374Highest
1,723Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
MA: +7.4%
+12.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Lowest
10% above MA
48.3±4.6
21% above MA
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
Devens and Westminster 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%
21.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Westminster 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%
26%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
45.9%
MA: 47.3%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Devens 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
$106,331±$22kLowest
about the MA average
$189,250±$63k
82% above MA
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
48% above MA
$422,000±$36kLowest
25% below MA
$556,800±$96k
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$1,843±$268Highest
5% above MA
$1,500±$539
15% below MA
Westminster and Devens 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
$4,973Lowest
17% below MA
$5,556
7% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5
MA: 51.8%
60%±27.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
87.6%
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
9% above MA
27 minLowest
7% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5
MA: 18.6%
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 #112 of 282 in MA —
School district Harvard Ashburnham-Westminster —
High school in town The Bromfield High School Oakmont Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Lowest
13.6Highest
—
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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.