Compare towns
Lancaster vs Killingly vs Hanson 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
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Killingly | Hanson | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
17,867Highest |
10,660 |
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. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3 10% above 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% 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% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #149 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Whitman-Hanson | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
14.7Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.