Compare towns

Georgetown vs Marshfield 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).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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.

MeasureGeorgetownMarshfieldLancaster
People
Population
8,474Lowest
25,879Highest
8,606
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.5Lowest
7% above MA
45.9±2.6Highest
15% above MA
43.1±4.9
8% above MA
Marshfield 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%
19.6%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Marshfield 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%
20.2%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
Marshfield 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
52.4%
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marshfield 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
$125,986±$8kLowest
21% above MA
$134,833±$27k
30% 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±$23k
16% above MA
$680,300±$27kHighest
21% above MA
$519,100±$60kLowest
8% below MA
Marshfield 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
$1,772±$123Lowest
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
$7,272Highest
21% above MA
$6,656Lowest
11% above MA
$7,235
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.7%±22.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
MA: 10%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1971
7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
Work from home
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Lancaster and Marshfield 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 #54 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA
School district Georgetown Marshfield Nashoba
High school in town Georgetown High School Marshfield High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
11.0Highest
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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.