Compare towns
Lancaster vs Harvard vs Georgetown vs Sutton
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).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Harvard | Georgetown | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
6,927Lowest |
8,474 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sutton and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Harvard | Georgetown | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Georgetown High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
9.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.