$998,529Average Value$354Average Price per Sq Ft20Homes For Sale
Charming New England town with history and community
Not to be confused with the university by the same name, Harvard is a small town in Worcester County that is still quite academic in its own right. With a highly-rated school district and former settlements from transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alcott and the Shakers, Harvard holds historical and literary significance. Today, the town still embraces its old-time charm and community-oriented outlook. "Time marches forward, as does the change. Harvard is no different; we're just a little slower at it," says Karen Shuttle, registrar at Harvard Public Schools and school employee for 25 years. "We have students who graduate and leave for college, but they find themselves coming back with their families to send their kids to school here. They want this experience for their children."
Harvard has beautiful landscapes in all directions just a short drive from the central town.
Harvard Massachusetts is a highly favored town providing a peaceful experience for locals.
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Students attend the sought-after Harvard Public School District
Harvard has its own regionalized school district consisting of two schools: Hildreth Elementary, for Pre-K through fifth grade, and The Bromfield School, for sixth through 12th grade. The schools sit across from each other along Massachusetts Avenue, and both earned A-grades from Niche. Although small, the school district is highly regarded and high-performing, and community involvement and support are critical components of the school's success. "Most people do come to Harvard because of the school system. We have great, achieving children because we have great teachers. That in itself is a testimony to the staff we have here," Shuttle says. "The PTO support here is just phenomenal. It blows my mind how committed they are and the enrichment programs they have for the students." Shuttle also notes that students from nearby Fitchburg State University intern at the school as just one of many support and involvement programs.
Hildreth Elementary School is part of the Harvard public schools.
The Bromfield School is located in the Bare Hill neighborhood of Harvard, Massachusetts.
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Colonial homes on large lots with mature trees
Harvard's housing stock largely consists of sprawling, colonial-style homes on large lots with mature trees and manicured green grass. Ron Morrison, co-owner and manager of MA Real Estate Center in Ayer says that homes in Harvard are double the average size of those throughout the country. "The average square footage here is 3,300, and the average price for a four-bedroom home is over $1 million," he says. Inventory is low, but homebuyers will find 1980s grand colonials on Candleberry Lane on 2.5-acre lots for around $1.1 million, and 1970s Garrison-style homes in the wooded Shaker Hills neighborhood go for between $875,000 and $975,000. Federal-style homes dating back to the 1770s on acres of forest and gardens cost around $2.3 million. On the lower end, newly constructed colonials on Pine Hill Way fetch around $700,000.
Large farm-style Garrison homes are everywhere in Harvard.
Traditional homes are popular and found nestled in the countryside of Harvard.
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Cyclists love Harvard's hills
Bare Hill Pond is a resource for residents year-round. In the summer, locals can float in the water, lay out in the sand or paddle board. In the winter, it's a great spot for skating, ice fishing and cross-country skiing. Harvard's rolling hills and beautiful scenery also make it a popular spot for biking. "We have a lot of cyclists come through our town. When you're at the general store, there's always people pulling in with their bicycles, especially on the weekends," Shuttle says. Nearby Harvard Park off Lancaster Country Road has a playground, running track, and paved and unpaved trails to explore.
Cyclists can enjoy Harvard's beautiful biking trails in the area.
The Town Beach provides kayaks, paddle boards and canoes for residents to enjoy.
Harvard Massachusetts is a popular destination for cyclists.
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Picking produce and the Harvard General Store
Harvard leans into its small-town feel, which can also mean sacrificing convenience. "As far as the luxury of grocery stores and gas stations, it just doesn't exist here. It's small and very charming," Shuttle says. "It's a quintessential New England town. There are three churches you can see standing in the center of town and a four-way stop." Residents can, however, stop in for wine, homemade baked goods and a few essentials at Harvard General Store. The store serves breakfast, lunch and specialty pizzas. Harvard also has an abundance of orchards, including Westward Orchards and Carlson Orchards, Inc., which grow apples, raspberries, blueberries and peaches for locals to enjoy seasonally.
Harvard General Store is famously known for delicious bakery and where they filmed Little Women.
Welcome to Carlson Orchards, the best apple and peach orchard Harvard has to offer.
Harvard's Unitarian Universalist chapel is located right at the center of Harvard town.
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Harvard Flea Market and historical sites around town
In 2018, Harvard General Store was part of the set of Greta Gerwig's Little Women, which was filmed entirely in Massachusetts. Another filming location was Harvard's Fruitlands Museum, a property that was once part of Amos Bronson Alcott's Transcendentalist experiment. Now, the farmhouse museum houses art and artifacts, and the surrounding land and buildings are available for self-guided tours between April and November. Once a year, Harvard teems with life for the Harvard Flea Market at the Bromfield School. "The flea market in October brings thousands of people through. There are swarms of people, and it's a huge event in the town. It's just one day, but the town isn't so sleepy then." Vendors set up on Friday night, and the event lasts all day Saturday.
Order a delicious sandwhich at Harvard General Store.
If you're up for an adventurous trip, be sure to stop by Fruitlands Museum in Harvard.
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Route 2 and I-90 are conveniently close for locals of Harvard, Massachusetts.
Getting to Worcester and Boston from Harvard
Harvard is a car-dependent area about 45 miles west of Boston and 25 miles northeast of Worcester. Drivers can travel to Worcester via I-190 or to Boston via Route 2. Harvard is a small town, so residents will likely need to drive to larger surrounding cities to find major airports, hospitals and transit, such as Boston Logan International Airport, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Worcester Regional Airport and UMass Medical Center in Worcester. Harvard has a CAP Index score of 1, indicating a very low crime risk in the area.
Written By
Faith Wakefield
Video By
Daniel Willingham
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On average, homes in Harvard, MA sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Harvard, MA over the last 12 months is $850,000, down 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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