What stands out worked out from the figures below

Georgetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Georgetown	Sterling
People
Population	8,474Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Georgetown and Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling 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%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling 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±$23kHighest 46% above MA	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA
	Georgetown and Sterling 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	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA
	Georgetown and Sterling 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	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Georgetown and Sterling 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%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Georgetown and Sterling 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Georgetown	Wachusett
High school in town	Georgetown High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.