Compare towns
Lancaster vs Acton vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Lancaster | Acton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
24,155Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Lancaster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Acton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Acton-Boxborough | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.