Compare towns
Georgetown vs Lancaster vs Topsfield
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 renters (16% rent).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Georgetown | Lancaster | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
8,606Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Georgetown 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Nashoba | Topsfield |
| 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.