Compare towns
Princeton vs Lancaster vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
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 | Princeton | Lancaster | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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 | 22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% 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 | $520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Nashoba | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.0 |
| 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.