Compare towns
Georgetown vs Plainfield vs Sturbridge 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Sturbridge | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474Lowest |
15,141Highest |
9,960 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Sturbridge 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Sturbridge 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Plainfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Plainfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
10.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.