Compare towns

Georgetown vs Marshfield vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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.

MeasureGeorgetownMarshfieldReading
People
Population
8,474Lowest
25,879Highest
25,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.5Lowest
7% above MA
45.9±2.6Highest
15% above MA
43.7±2.3
9% above MA
Marshfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Reading and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
56.1%
MA: 47.3%
52.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Marshfield and Georgetown 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
46% above MA
$125,986±$8kLowest
21% above MA
$165,912±$13kHighest
60% above MA
Reading and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$651,200±$23kLowest
16% above MA
$680,300±$27k
21% above MA
$809,000±$22kHighest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,223±$506Highest
26% above MA
$1,772±$123Lowest
about the MA average
$1,991±$273
13% above MA
Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,272
21% above MA
$6,656Lowest
11% above MA
$9,320Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.7%±22.5
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
MA: 10%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
31 minLowest
6% above MA
Work from home
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Reading and Marshfield 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 #140 of 282 in MA #54 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA
School district Georgetown Marshfield Reading
High school in town Georgetown High School Marshfield High Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.3Lowest
11.0
12.1Highest
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.