Compare towns
Lancaster vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| 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%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
14.6Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
MA 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.