Compare towns
Harwich vs Rowley vs Upton vs Mashpee
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 expensive homes ($667k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Mashpee has the most affordable homes ($562k 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 | Mashpee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,598 |
6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
15,384Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 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%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest 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% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Mashpee 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 |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% 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±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$562,200±$29kLowest about the MA average |
| Rowley and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,776±$330 about the MA average |
| Harwich and Mashpee 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 |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Harwich 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% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 14% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Harwich 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 | #100 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mashpee |
| High school in town | Monomoy Regional High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Mashpee Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.2 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.