Compare towns
Lancaster vs Wayne vs Upton 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).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Wayne | Upton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,101Lowest |
8,189 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Upton 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% 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% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 38 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.