Compare towns
Harvard vs Windham vs Hampton vs Topsfield
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 renters (52.6% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
23,961Highest |
1,647Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest 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% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| 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 151% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| 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±$424Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Hampton 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. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Hampton School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.