Compare towns
Harvard vs Norwell vs Lancaster
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 people working from home (44.8%).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Norwell | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
11,361Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell 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 |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Harvard and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Norwell and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Norwell | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Norwell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.