Compare towns
Topsfield vs Harvard vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k 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.
| Measure | Topsfield | Harvard | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624 |
6,927Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45±8.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Pelham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
| Harvard and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Harvard and Pelham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,472Lowest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Pelham 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Harvard | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.