Compare towns
Georgetown vs Reading vs Boxford 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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Reading | Boxford | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
25,612Highest |
8,208Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Boxford and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Reading | Boxford · Masconomet | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Reading Memorial High | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.