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Georgetown vs Johnstown

Next-door neighbors in Polk County. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+12.6 pts in Georgetown) and trails (2.3× in Johnstown).

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Georgetown, WIA small town of 1,239Polk County · 1,239 people
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Johnstown, WIAn outdoors townPolk County · 623 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

GeorgetownA small town of 1,239
Quiet strengthsGeorgetown doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Georgetown →
JohnstownAn outdoors town
Outdoors14.9% conserved land2.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Johnstown →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+12.6 pts
Georgetown has grown faster since 2010
Georgetown +6%Johnstown -6.6%
Trails2.3×
Johnstown has more miles of trail
Johnstown 2.3 miGeorgetown 1.0 mi
Average commute9 min
Johnstown has the shorter commute
Georgetown 37 minJohnstown 28 min
Street grid+86%
Georgetown has the more walkable street grid
Georgetown 2.6Johnstown 1.4
Conserved land+14.5 pts
Johnstown has more conserved land
Johnstown 14.9%Georgetown 0.4%
★ What stands out · Where they are

Georgetown and Johnstown share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GeorgetownJohnstownGeorgetownJohnstown
Georgetown ↔ Johnstown5.3 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Georgetown$1,830/mo
Typical home $303K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $938/mo · Housing →
Johnstown$1,850/mo
Typical home $303K (Census) · tax rate 1.05% · or rent about $791/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health
B−GeorgetownHealthier than 46% of U.S. towns –JohnstownNot graded
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
GeorgetownJohnstown
Snow a year61″61″
January low5°F5°F
July high81°F81°F
Growing season (days)149d149d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)19th19th
Outdoors & history
GeorgetownJohnstown
Trails1 mi2 mi
Conserved land0.4%14.9%
Community
GeorgetownJohnstown
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

GeorgetownJohnstown
People
Population 1,239Highest 623Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6%Highest WI: +3.6% -6.6%Lowest WI: +3.6%
Median age 43.1±6.2Lowest 7% above WI 47±4.7Highest 17% above WI
Johnstown and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.7%±4.9Highest WI: 21.4% 16.2%±3.7Lowest WI: 21.4%
Georgetown and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.2%±2Lowest WI: 18.5% 24.1%±2.4Highest WI: 18.5%
Johnstown and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.9%Highest WI: 33.4% 20.4%Lowest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.6%±4Lowest WI: 5.8% 5%±2.4Highest WI: 5.8%
Johnstown and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $77,308±$16kLowest about the WI average $98,750±$18kHighest 27% above WI
Johnstown and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $303,400±$55kHighest 14% above WI $302,900±$45kLowest 14% above WI
Georgetown and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $938±$136Highest 14% below WI $791±$183Lowest 27% below WI
Georgetown and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,887Lowest 24% below WI $3,167Highest 16% below WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.1%±100Highest WI: 43.7% 10.3%±49.8Lowest WI: 43.7%
Georgetown and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.1%Lowest WI: 10.6% 12.5%Highest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 84.2%Highest WI: 67.8% 83.8%Lowest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1978Lowest 3 yrs newer than WI 1984Highest 9 yrs newer than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 37 minHighest 65% above WI 28 minLowest 26% above WI
Work from home 21.5%±8.4Highest WI: 13.1% 10.1%±4Lowest WI: 13.1%
Georgetown and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.5%Lowest 2.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 29.3 miLowest 30.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.11Lowest 0.13Highest
Top workplaceoutside town La Follette (6%)La Follette (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JohnstownFew work in Georgetown
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Lowest 14.9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miLowest 2.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.6Highest 1.4Lowest
Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Georgetown neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Georgetown’s Town Square.

Johnstown neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Johnstown’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Georgetown and Johnstown

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Georgetown

A
+ Compare
Apple River1,194 people · $263K homes
B
+ Compare
Bone Lake704 people · $279K homes
M
+ Compare
Milltown1,360 people · $331K homes

Towns like Georgetown

+ Compare
Lowell1,075 people · $322K homes
C
+ Compare
Colfax1,238 people · $276K homes
M
+ Compare
Milford1,164 people · $388K homes
B
+ Compare
Bergen1,348 people · $331K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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