Compare towns
Lancaster vs Plainfield vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Mendon | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,314Lowest |
6,325 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mendon 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2Highest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Lancaster 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mendon and Harvard 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. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest 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 | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Mendon-Upton | 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.