Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton vs Harvard vs Mendon
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 most affordable homes ($519k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Hampton | Harvard | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,101Highest |
6,927 |
6,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,872Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% 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. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Harvard | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.