Compare towns
Georgetown vs Hamilton vs Lancaster vs Upton
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 renters (16% rent).
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Hamilton | Lancaster | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
7,600Lowest |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Hamilton 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% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton 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% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Upton 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% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.