Compare towns
Harvard vs Brooklyn vs Georgetown vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Harvard | Brooklyn | Georgetown | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,517 |
8,474 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Georgetown 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 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 | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Brooklyn School District | Georgetown | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.