Compare towns
Lancaster vs Middlesex vs Upton vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k 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 | Middlesex | Upton | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,943Lowest |
8,189 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Upton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 67% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 56% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Middlesex 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.