Compare towns
Georgetown vs Middlesex vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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.
| Measure | Georgetown | Middlesex | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
1,943Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| 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 133% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 |
| School district | Georgetown | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.