Compare towns
Rowley vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
8,183 |
8,474Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% 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 |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% 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±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$2,223±$506Highest 26% above MA |
| Georgetown and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Georgetown 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% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Georgetown and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Wachusett | 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.