Compare towns
Rowley vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
6,976 |
8,474Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Rowley and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Rowley 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% |
19.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Shirley 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$151,595±$23kHighest 46% above MA |
| Georgetown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
| Rowley and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Georgetown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ayer Shirley School District | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.