Compare towns
Harwich vs Rowley vs Upton vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Rowley has the most renters (18.3% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($943k 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 | Harwich | Rowley | Upton | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,598Highest |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
6,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5 47% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,966±$13k 7% below MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $658,600±$26k 17% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,485±$209 16% below MA |
| Harwich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,189 30% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 14% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chatham and Upton 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 | #157 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monomoy Regional School District |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.