Compare towns
Georgetown vs Rowley vs Townsend
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 people working from home (20.2%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474 |
6,251Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| 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±3.5 7% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Rowley and Georgetown 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%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Townsend 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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±$520 9% below MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Georgetown and Rowley 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #140 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Triton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.