Compare towns
Harvard vs Ogunquit vs Acton 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Acton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
1,379Lowest |
24,155Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Acton 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | — | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.