What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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

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	Haverhill	Harvard
People
Population	67,698Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the MA average	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Haverhill and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Haverhill and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 15% below MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kLowest 19% below MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49Highest 5% below MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Haverhill and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,772Lowest 20% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#243 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	Harvard
High school in town	Haverhill High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

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.