Compare towns
Lancaster vs Canton vs Georgetown vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($395k median).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Lancaster | Canton | Georgetown | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
10,144 |
8,474Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
45.3±5.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Canton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% 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 | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,403±$358 about the U.S. average |
$2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below 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 | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$7,232 132% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±28.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Canton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #22 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Canton School District | Georgetown | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High School | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.