Compare towns
Harvard vs Ossipee 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).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Ossipee | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
4,521Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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. |
$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 |
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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.