Compare towns
Georgetown vs Sterling 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 expensive homes ($651k median).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Sterling | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
8,183Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Lancaster 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% 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±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,699±$161Lowest 4% 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 | $7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Wachusett | 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 Our Story | 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.