Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dover vs Georgetown vs Pepperell
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Georgetown has the most renters (16% rent).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,930Lowest |
8,474 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Georgetown 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Pepperell 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 30% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 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 | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Georgetown | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.