Compare towns
Boxborough vs Harvard vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Boxborough | Harvard | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
6,927 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Boxborough 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
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| 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.