Compare towns
Gloucester vs Upton vs Georgetown vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the most renters (36.1% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Georgetown has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Gloucester | Upton | Georgetown | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
8,189 |
8,474 |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3Highest 26% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
45±3.4 13% above MA |
| Gloucester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gloucester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Georgetown and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
$1,964±$238 11% above MA |
| Georgetown and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Gloucester and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex and Upton 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Georgetown | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Blackstone Valley | Georgetown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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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.