Compare towns
Lancaster vs Gardner 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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
21,148Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Gardner 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Gardner | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner 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.