Compare towns
Lancaster vs Townsend vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,100Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Harvard and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 30% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | North Middlesex | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.