Compare towns
Georgetown vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Shirley | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,474Highest |
6,976 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Ayer Shirley School District | Triton |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.