Compare towns
Georgetown vs Topsfield 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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
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 | Topsfield | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
2,624Lowest |
8,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Topsfield 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Georgetown and Topsfield 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 |
$191,146±$21kHighest 84% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Topsfield and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$994±$841Lowest 44% 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 |
$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% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest 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% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.