Compare towns
Georgetown vs Salem vs Sutton
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 expensive homes ($651k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Salem | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474Lowest |
44,795Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Sutton 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Georgetown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23kHighest 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Georgetown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272Highest 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Salem | Sutton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Salem High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.