Compare towns
Rowe vs Middlesex vs Peru vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Peru | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453Lowest |
1,943Highest |
630 |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,805 22% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rowe | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.