Compare towns
Harvard vs Merrimack 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 most expensive homes ($834k median).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
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 | Merrimack | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
28,164Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack 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 165% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Merrimack 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. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Merrimack School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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| 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.