Compare towns
Georgetown vs Salem vs Sutton vs Rowley
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474 |
44,795Highest |
9,452 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Sutton 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% |
19.3%±4.5 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%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Sutton 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest 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% |
4.8%±2.2 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% 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±$23k 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above 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 |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% 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 | $7,272 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% 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 |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Salem | Sutton | Triton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | Salem High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.