Compare towns
Boylston vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Sutton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
9,452Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Sutton 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Sutton 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Sutton | Triton |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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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.