Compare towns
Boylston vs Needham 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 the most affordable homes ($579k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Needham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Needham | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.