Harwich is a medium-sized coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of Massachusetts. With a population of 13,620 people and three associated neighborhoods, Harwich is the 151st largest community in Massachusetts. Housing costs in Harwich are among some of the highest in the nation, although real estate prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive communities in Massachusetts.Unlike some towns, Harwich isn’t mainly white- or blue-collar. Instead, the most prevalent occupations for people in Harwich are a mix of both white- and blue-collar jobs. Overall, Harwich is a town of professionals, service providers, and sales and office workers. There are especially a lot of people living in Harwich who work in management occupations (11.44%), sales jobs (10.41%), and office and administrative support (8.17%). Of important note, Harwich is also a town of artists. Harwich has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Harwich’s character. Also of interest is that Harwich has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US. Telecommuters are a relatively large percentage of the workforce: 17.16% of people work from home. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce it is high relative to the nation. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes. Another notable thing is that Harwich is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Harwich’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live. Because of many things, Harwich is a great place for families with children to consider. First of all, many other families with children live here, making Harwich a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families, as well as find family-oriented services and community. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic values. With regard to real estate, Harwich has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Harwich’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country. Harwich is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery. Harwich is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 46.59% of adults in Harwich have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher. The per capita income in Harwich in 2022 was $57,410, which is middle income relative to Massachusetts, and wealthy relative to the rest of the US. This equates to an annual income of $229,640 for a family of four. The people who call Harwich home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Harwich residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Harwich include Irish, English, Swedish, Italian, and German. The most common language spoken in Harwich is English. Other important languages spoken here include Chinese and Armenian.
