Compare towns
Acton vs Georgetown vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Georgetown has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Acton | Georgetown | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
8,474 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Acton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Georgetown and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Georgetown | Triton |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.