Compare towns
Georgetown vs Lancaster vs Northbridge vs Sutton
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 expensive homes ($651k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Northbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474Lowest |
8,606 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Northbridge 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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 46% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Georgetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 | $7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Nashoba | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.8 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.