Compare towns
Harvard vs Rowley vs Sutton 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 highest household income ($214k).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Rowley | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
6,251Lowest |
9,452Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Rowley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Sutton 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 |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Rowley 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Triton | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.