Compare towns
Harvard vs Chaplin vs Lancaster vs Shirley
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 most expensive homes ($834k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Shirley has the most renters (22.6% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Lancaster | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
2,070Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster 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% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Shirley 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. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 29 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.