Compare towns
Georgetown vs Ayer vs Putnam vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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 | Georgetown | Ayer | Putnam | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
8,645 |
9,292Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272 133% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.5 |
9.5 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.