What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).

Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).

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	Paxton	Harvard
People
Population	5,002Lowest	6,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Paxton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	4.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#219 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Harvard
High school in town	None in town	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
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.