Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Berlin 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Berlin has the most renters (22.7% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Berlin | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,378 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
— | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Ogunquit 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Berlin-Boylston | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.