Compare towns
Harvard vs Dummerston vs Lancaster vs Norfolk
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 people working from home (44.8%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% 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 | Harvard | Dummerston | Lancaster | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
2,090Lowest |
8,606 |
11,673Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norfolk and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Norfolk 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. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22k 149% above U.S. |
| 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 151% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34k 118% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598 43% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs 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 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nashoba | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.