Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Ripton vs Littleton
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Littleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Lancaster | Ripton | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,606 |
508Lowest |
10,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.5±2 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Littleton and Harvard 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$149,722±$31k 85% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$658,300±$40k 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $2,016±$507 43% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Littleton 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$9,458 203% 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% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | — | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Littleton |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.