Compare towns
Lancaster vs Northfield vs Ogunquit 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
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Northfield | Ogunquit | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Lancaster 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% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Ogunquit 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. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% 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. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | — | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Pioneer Valley | — | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.