What stands out worked out from the figures below

Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Georgetown	Nelson
People
Population	8,474Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.5Highest 10% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Georgetown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Georgetown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S.	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S.	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,272Highest 133% above U.S.	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Georgetown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	20.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Georgetown 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	—
School district	Georgetown	Nelson School District
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

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.