Compare towns
Lancaster vs Georgetown vs Douglas
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 people working from home (33.6%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Lancaster | Georgetown | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,474Lowest |
9,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas 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% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Douglas 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% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Georgetown | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.