Compare towns
Ayer vs Rowley vs Upton vs West Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
West Bridgewater has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Ayer | Rowley | Upton | West Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
7,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
38.4±4.4Lowest 4% below MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$123,406±$23k 19% above MA |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$503,800±$47k 10% below MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,921±$320Highest 9% above MA |
| West Bridgewater and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,471 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.6%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #186 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | West Bridgewater |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | West Bridgewater Junior/Senior |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.