Compare towns
Rowe vs Oakham vs Monroe vs Hancock
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 kids (23% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Oakham | Monroe | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453 |
1,639Highest |
122Lowest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
47.1±11.1Lowest 18% above MA |
| Monroe and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Hancock 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
— | $96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
| Oakham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
| Rowe and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458 76% below MA |
$4,103Highest 32% below MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
39 min 32% above MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hancock and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rowe | Quabbin | — | Hancock |
| 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 |
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.