Compare towns
Lancaster vs Reading vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
25,612Highest |
8,474Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lancaster 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Georgetown and Lancaster 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
| Reading 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±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
| Lancaster and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Reading | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.