Compare towns
Rowe vs Acton vs Florida vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k 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 | Rowe | Acton | Florida | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453 |
24,155Highest |
668 |
122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
| Monroe and Florida 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% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28 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% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe 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% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$246,800±$19k 56% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% 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 |
$1,894 68% below MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Rowe | Acton-Boxborough | Florida | — |
| 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 | 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.