Compare towns
Boylston vs Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% 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 | Boylston | Northfield | Ogunquit | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
6,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52k 101% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 133% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #231 of 282 in MA | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Pioneer Valley | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.