Compare towns
Douglas vs Lancaster vs Georgetown vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Douglas | Lancaster | Georgetown | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,606 |
8,474Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Nashoba | Georgetown | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Georgetown High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 9.3Highest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.