Compare towns
Lancaster vs West Bath vs Sutton 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).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | West Bath | Sutton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,863Lowest |
9,452Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Sutton 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Sutton 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. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% 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% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | West Bath Public Schools | Sutton | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
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.