Compare towns
Harvard vs Danvers vs Norfolk vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Harvard | Danvers | Norfolk | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
28,098Highest |
11,673 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Danvers 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 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Danvers 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 106% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Danvers 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 67% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16 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 | 4.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | King Philip · Millis | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 29 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.