Compare towns
Lancaster vs Union vs Georgetown vs Harvard
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Union | Georgetown | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
944Lowest |
8,474 |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
| Union and Harvard 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%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Harvard 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Harvard 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $2,223±$506 57% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below 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. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Harvard 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% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Union School District | Georgetown | Harvard |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.