Compare towns

Georgetown vs Lancaster vs Needham vs Ogunquit

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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureGeorgetownLancasterNeedhamOgunquit
People
Population
8,474
8,606
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.5Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
43.1±1.6
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
56.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Ogunquit 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
88% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$651,200±$23k
96% above U.S.
$519,100±$60kLowest
56% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,223±$506Lowest
57% above U.S.
$2,338±$539
65% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
Needham and Lancaster 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.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.7%±22.5
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit 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 #145 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA —
School district Georgetown Nashoba — —
High school in town Georgetown High School 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.