Compare towns
Boylston vs Sterling 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%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Sterling | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
8,183Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
| Sterling and Rowley 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% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Boylston 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% 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 |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Sterling 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.