Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hampton vs Harvard vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
16,426Highest |
6,927Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,654Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older 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 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2Lowest 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 | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Harvard | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | The Bromfield High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.0 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.