Compare towns
Georgetown vs North Reading vs Boxford
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).
North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | North Reading | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
15,765Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Boxford 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Boxford 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | North Reading | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | North Reading High | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.1 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.