Compare towns
Georgetown vs Athol vs Rowley vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the highest household income ($152k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Georgetown | Athol | Rowley | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
12,011Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Georgetown and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272 21% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Athol-Royalston | Triton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.