Compare towns

Georgetown vs Marblehead vs Lancaster

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).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureGeorgetownMarbleheadLancaster
People
Population
8,474Lowest
20,413Highest
8,606
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.5Lowest
7% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
43.1±4.9
8% above MA
Marblehead 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%
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead 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%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marblehead 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
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$134,833±$27kLowest
30% above MA
Marblehead and Georgetown 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
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$519,100±$60kLowest
8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,223±$506
26% above MA
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$7,235Lowest
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.7%±22.5
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
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%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
15% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
Work from home
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1
MA: 18.6%
Marblehead 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 #47 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA
School district Georgetown Marblehead Nashoba
High school in town Georgetown High School Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
10.7Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.