Compare towns
Georgetown vs Halifax vs Lancaster vs Rowley
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 highest household income ($152k).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Halifax | Lancaster | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
847Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 88% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% 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. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% 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. |
$4,991Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Halifax 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Halifax School District | Nashoba | Triton |
| 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.