Compare towns
Lancaster vs Townsend vs Ware 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 the most people working from home (33.6%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Townsend | Ware | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
9,100 |
10,048Highest |
8,474Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Ware 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 30% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below 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 | $7,235 21% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ware 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | North Middlesex | Ware | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.