Compare towns
Georgetown vs Needham vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the most affordable homes ($651k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Needham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
32,459Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Rowley 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Needham and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.