Compare towns
Lancaster vs Chilmark vs Harvard vs Mendon
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).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Harvard | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,578Lowest |
6,927 |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Chilmark and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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±$27k 30% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
| Harvard and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
| Chilmark and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Harvard 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Up-Island Regional | Harvard | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.