Compare towns
Harvard vs Windham vs Georgetown vs Shirley
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%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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.
| Measure | Harvard | Windham | Georgetown | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
23,961Highest |
8,474 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Shirley 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. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Windham High School | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.