Compare towns
Sutton vs Shirley vs Lancaster vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Sutton | Shirley | Lancaster | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,976Lowest |
8,606 |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest 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+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% 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 | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above 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 | $6,763 13% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,272Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Georgetown |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.