Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Shirley
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).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Lancaster | Ogunquit | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,606Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Ogunquit 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | 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.