Compare towns
Lancaster vs Readfield vs Harvard vs Georgetown
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).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Readfield | Harvard | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,651Lowest |
6,927 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield 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% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Georgetown 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Georgetown 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. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #12 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 38 | Harvard | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | The Bromfield High School | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
11.0 |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.