Compare towns
Devens vs Georgetown 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
Devens has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Devens | Georgetown | Harvard | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
8,474 |
6,927 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96k about the MA average |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 15% below MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #140 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Georgetown | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Georgetown High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.