Compare towns
Lancaster vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Thompson | Putnam | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,337Highest |
9,292 |
6,927Lowest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,860 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% |
54%±18.7 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% |
5.9% 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% |
84.3% 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. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Thompson School District | Putnam School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Putnam High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.5 |
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.