Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Rye
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 most affordable homes ($519k median).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,606Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Rye 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. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | Rye 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 |
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.