Compare towns
Lancaster vs Exeter vs Harvard vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Exeter | Harvard | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,151Highest |
6,927Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 67% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.