Compare towns
Hampton vs Harvard vs Lancaster vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Harvard | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
6,927 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Harvard | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.