Compare towns
Harvard vs Lunenburg vs Paxton
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).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Paxton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Lunenburg | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
11,902Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Lunenburg 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Paxton and Lunenburg 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% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$134,083±$8k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Paxton 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 67% above MA |
$6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
$7,129 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lunenburg 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Lunenburg | Wachusett |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.