Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dover vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Dover | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,308Lowest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
— | $2,223±$506Lowest 26% 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 | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Georgetown High School |
| 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.