Compare towns
Rowley vs North 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
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Rowley | North Reading | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
15,765Highest |
8,474 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Rowley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
| Georgetown and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
| North Reading and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
| North Reading and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading and Georgetown 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | North Reading | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.