Compare towns

Lancaster 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 most people working from home (33.6%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
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.

MeasureLancasterGeorgetownPepperell
People
Population
8,606
8,474Lowest
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.9Highest
8% above MA
42.8±3.5
7% above MA
42.4±3.3Lowest
6% above MA
Lancaster and Georgetown 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%
20.1%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Pepperell 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%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
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%
43.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
30% above MA
$151,595±$23kHighest
46% above MA
$124,073±$12kLowest
19% above MA
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
8% below MA
$651,200±$23kHighest
16% above MA
$482,100±$14kLowest
14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
$2,223±$506
26% above MA
$1,295±$238Lowest
27% 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
$6,698Lowest
12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
53.7%±22.5
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
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%
8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
7 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
34 min
15% above MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
Work from home
33.6%±9.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.2%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
18.1%±2.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #145 of 282 in MA #140 of 282 in MA #153 of 282 in MA
School district Nashoba Georgetown North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Georgetown High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.