Compare towns
Douglas vs Heath vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% 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 | Douglas | Heath | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
765 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
— | $1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Douglas and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Heath and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Douglas | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.