Compare towns
Dudley 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
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Dudley | Harvard | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
6,927Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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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.