Compare towns
Boylston vs Douglas vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
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 | Boylston | Douglas | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
9,207Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Douglas and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Douglas 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Douglas | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.