Compare towns
Newbury vs Reading vs Georgetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newbury has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Georgetown has the most affordable homes ($651k 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 | Newbury | Reading | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,777Lowest |
25,612Highest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±4.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.1% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Newbury and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $174,868±$59kHighest 68% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
| Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $840,600±$40kHighest 50% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
| Newbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,806±$1kLowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Georgetown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,661Lowest 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Georgetown and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Newbury 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 | #137 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Reading | Georgetown |
| High school in town | Triton Regional High School | Reading Memorial High | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
12.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.