Compare towns
Harvard vs Lyme vs Lancaster
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lyme | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,710Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 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 |
| School district | Harvard | Lyme School District | Nashoba |
| 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.