Compare towns
Georgetown vs Ayer 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 most expensive homes ($651k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474Lowest |
8,645Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% 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 | $7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Ayer 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.