Compare towns
Georgetown vs Putnam vs Thompson 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
Georgetown has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6 26% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Boxford 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Boxford 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272 133% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Thompson 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.