Compare towns
Harvard vs Jericho vs Lancaster vs Boxborough
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).
Jericho has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Jericho | Lancaster | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
5,114Lowest |
8,606Highest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Boxborough 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% |
20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jericho 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough 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. |
$116,923±$16kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Boxborough 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. |
$7,318 135% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Harvard 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #145 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Nashoba | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| 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.