Compare towns
Rowley vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Georgetown has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Townsend | Georgetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
9,100Highest |
8,474 |
| 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±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.5 7% above MA |
| Rowley and Georgetown 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,272 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | North Middlesex | Georgetown |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Georgetown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.