Compare towns
Georgetown vs Harvard vs Reading 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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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.
| Measure | Georgetown | Harvard | Reading | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
6,927Lowest |
25,612Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Harvard and Reading 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Reading 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Harvard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above 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 | $7,272 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Harvard | Reading | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | The Bromfield High School | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.0 |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.