Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Lowell
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 expensive homes ($834k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,606 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Harvard 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | Lowell |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.