Compare towns
Georgetown vs Thompson vs Lancaster vs Rowley
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Thompson | Lancaster | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
9,337Highest |
8,606 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Rowley 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Rowley 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% 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±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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 57% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% 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 | $7,272 133% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Rowley 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Thompson School District | Nashoba | Triton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.