Compare towns
Georgetown vs Windham vs Rowley 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Windham | Rowley | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
16,038Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Georgetown 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Windham 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 88% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 96% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52k 101% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Windham and Rowley 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
| Windham and Lancaster 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #214 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Windham School District | Triton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.