Compare towns
Boylston vs Woonsocket vs Rowley vs Berlin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Rowley | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
43,521Highest |
6,251 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Rowley 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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 75% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 133% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #214 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Triton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Woonsocket High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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| 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.