Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Pepperell 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Ogunquit | Pepperell | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
11,663Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%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% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% 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±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% 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% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
8%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% |
84.3%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. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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 28% 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% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | North Middlesex | 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.