Compare towns

Douglas vs Harvard vs Lunenburg

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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.

MeasureDouglasHarvardLunenburg
People
Population
9,207
6,927Lowest
11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+16.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
44.1±4.7Highest
10% above MA
43.2±2.1Lowest
8% above MA
Harvard and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Douglas and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.3%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Lunenburg and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10k
46% above MA
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
$112,828±$11kLowest
9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
16% below MA
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$463,900±$24kLowest
17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,321±$424Lowest
25% below MA
$1,974±$586Highest
12% above MA
Lunenburg and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,401
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
72.5%±51.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.8%±13.5
MA: 51.8%
Harvard and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.5%
MA: 10%
4.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
89.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
16% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.8%±3.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 282 in MA #12 of 282 in MA #87 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Harvard Lunenburg
High school in town Douglas High School The Bromfield High School Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
11.0
12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.