Compare towns
Lancaster vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
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 | Thompson | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,337Highest |
8,474Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Thompson School District | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.