Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Princeton vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Lunenburg | Princeton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
3,529Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Lunenburg and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Wachusett | Harvard |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.