Compare towns
Georgetown vs Rowley vs Sterling
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Rowley | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
| Georgetown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Georgetown and Sterling 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Georgetown and Sterling 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Triton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | 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.