Compare towns
Georgetown vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Rowley
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Sutton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Sutton 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%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% 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±$23k 16% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Georgetown 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Rowley 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Nashoba | Sutton | Triton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 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.