Compare towns
Georgetown vs Colebrook vs Rowley vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Rowley | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
1,494Lowest |
6,251 |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Rowley 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 88% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above 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 | $7,272 133% above U.S. |
$6,211Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Colebrook School District | Triton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.