Compare towns
Boston vs Upton vs Georgetown vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k 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 | Boston | Upton | Georgetown | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
8,189Lowest |
8,474 |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Brookline and Upton 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Georgetown | — |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Blackstone Valley | Georgetown High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
11.2 |
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.