Compare towns
Lancaster vs Smithfield vs Mendon 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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Georgetown has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Smithfield | Mendon | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
22,233Highest |
6,325Lowest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Mendon 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% 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. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above 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. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #210 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Smithfield | Mendon-Upton | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
— | 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.