Compare towns

Lancaster vs Orange vs Georgetown vs Upton

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%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

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.

MeasureLancasterOrangeGeorgetownUpton
People
Population
8,606
14,315Highest
8,474
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
45.6±2.4
17% above U.S.
42.8±3.5Lowest
10% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Orange 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%
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
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%
23%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Orange and Upton 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%
59.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
56.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Orange 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
67% above U.S.
$142,325±$10k
76% above U.S.
$151,595±$23k
88% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% 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.
$491,500±$17kLowest
48% above U.S.
$651,200±$23kHighest
96% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$2,172±$161
54% above U.S.
$2,223±$506
57% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below 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
$7,235Lowest
132% above U.S.
$8,988Highest
188% above U.S.
$7,272
133% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.7%±22.5
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Orange 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%
3.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Upton 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 #38 of 149 in CT #140 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Nashoba Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Georgetown Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town None in town Georgetown High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.3Lowest
11.2Highest
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.