Compare towns
Harvard vs Spencer 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 expensive homes ($834k median).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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 | Spencer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
12,008Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Spencer 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% 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 |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Spencer-E Brookfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.