Compare towns

Georgetown vs Chicopee vs Lancaster vs Boxford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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.

MeasureGeorgetownChicopeeLancasterBoxford
People
Population
8,474
55,295Highest
8,606
8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.5
7% above MA
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
43.1±4.9
8% above MA
49.1±3.6Highest
23% above MA
Boxford and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.7%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Boxford and Georgetown 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%
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
21.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Boxford 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%
22.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%
MA: 47.3%
70.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Boxford 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±$23k
46% above MA
$62,615±$6kLowest
40% below MA
$134,833±$27k
30% above MA
$200,871±$21kHighest
93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$651,200±$23k
16% above MA
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$519,100±$60k
8% below MA
$907,000±$46kHighest
61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,223±$506
26% above MA
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
$776±$13Lowest
56% below 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
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$7,235
21% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.7%±22.5
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
67.2%±60.6
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
MA: 10%
17.3%Highest
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%
MA: 62.5%
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
21 minLowest
27% below MA
32 min
9% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
20.2%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±5.9
MA: 18.6%
Lancaster and Boxford 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 #247 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA #34 of 282 in MA
School district Georgetown Chicopee Nashoba Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town Georgetown High School Chicopee Comprehensive High School None in town Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
11.2
—
12.2Highest
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.