Compare towns
Lancaster vs Harvard vs Leominster
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).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Leominster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Harvard | Leominster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,927Lowest |
43,909Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.3±2.2 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Leominster 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±1.8Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Leominster 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leominster 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,354±$50 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±5.6Lowest 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #233 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Harvard | Leominster |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Leominster High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.