Compare towns
Harvard vs Wilton 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).
Wilton 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 | Wilton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927 |
3,960Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Wilton 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% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilton 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 165% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,612 144% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
9.1Lowest |
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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.