Compare towns
Lancaster vs Jackson vs Harvard vs Devens
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Devens has the most renters (20.7% rent).
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 | Jackson | Harvard | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
897Lowest |
6,927 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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. |
$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63k 134% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Jackson 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. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens 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% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | Jackson School District | Harvard | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | — |
| 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.