Compare towns
Georgetown vs Lancaster vs Shirley
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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Lancaster | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
8,606Highest |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 46% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| 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±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.