Compare towns
Lancaster vs Suffield vs Harvard vs Bolton
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 most renters (14.9% rent).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Bolton has the most kids (25% 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 | Suffield | Harvard | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
15,702Highest |
6,927 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Bolton 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Suffield School District | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | The Bromfield High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.0 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.