Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Harvard vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% 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 | Plainfield | Harvard | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,141 |
6,927Lowest |
15,563Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Harvard | Clinton |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | The Bromfield High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.0 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.