Compare towns
Harvard vs Deep River vs Lancaster vs Devens
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).
Deep River has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Devens has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Deep River | Lancaster | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
4,458 |
8,606Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Devens and Deep River 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% |
16.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deep River 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% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Devens 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. |
$6,092 95% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Harvard 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Harvard | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Valley Regional 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.