Compare towns
Lancaster vs Temple vs Devens 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Temple | Devens | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
1,363Lowest |
1,723 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Temple and Devens 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% |
14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown 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% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Devens 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. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
| Devens 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. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$556,800±$96k 67% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Devens 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. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,500±$539 6% 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. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$5,556Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.5%±11.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Devens 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 | — | — | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.