Compare towns
Boylston vs Webster vs Rowley vs Berlin
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Webster | Rowley | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
17,748Highest |
6,251 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Rowley 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Boylston 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Webster | Triton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.