Compare towns
Lancaster vs Pomfret vs Putnam 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).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Pomfret | Putnam | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
4,317Lowest |
9,292Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Harvard 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% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret 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% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Putnam 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% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Putnam 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. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older 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. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Pomfret School District | Putnam School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
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.