Compare towns
Harvard vs Lancaster vs Sturbridge
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).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
8,606 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 106% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.