Compare towns
Lancaster vs York 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 most affordable homes ($519k median).
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | York | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
13,986Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| York and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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. |
$121,250±$25kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,490±$336 5% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and York 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. |
$4,658Lowest 49% 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% |
56.5%±10.8Lowest 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Lowest 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | York Public Schools | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | York High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.