Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dudley vs Plainfield vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Dudley | Plainfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
11,929 |
15,141Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Plainfield School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Plainfield High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.