Compare towns
Paxton vs Georgetown vs Sutton vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Paxton | Georgetown | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,002Lowest |
8,474 |
9,452Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
| Georgetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% 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 | $7,129 19% above MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Georgetown 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Paxton 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Georgetown | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.