Compare towns
Harvard vs Upton vs Lancaster vs Boxborough
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Upton | Lancaster | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927 |
8,189 |
8,606Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| Lancaster and Boxborough 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.