Compare towns
Rowe vs Acton vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Rowe | Acton | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 453Lowest |
24,155Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Acton and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Rowe | Acton-Boxborough | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.