Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mendon vs Windsor Locks 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
Mendon has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Mendon | Windsor Locks | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,325Lowest |
12,579Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Windsor Locks 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. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mendon 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. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| 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.