Compare towns
Lancaster vs Hanson 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
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Hanson | Plainfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,660 |
15,141Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Harvard 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Hanson 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% |
42.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$533,900±$36k 60% 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. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hanson 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. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 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% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Hanson 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% |
2.7% 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% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% 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% |
7.9%±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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Whitman-Hanson | Plainfield School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Plainfield High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
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.