Compare towns
Georgetown vs Sterling vs Upton vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Georgetown has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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 | Sterling | Upton | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,474Highest |
3,629Lowest |
8,189 |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,200±$23k 96% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
— | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,272 133% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Boxford 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Georgetown | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Georgetown High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.