Compare towns
Rowe vs Ware vs Hancock vs Monroe
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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Ware | Hancock | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453 |
6,369Highest |
752 |
122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
| Monroe 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.3 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
19.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$96,250±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
— |
| Hancock and Rowe 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 |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 |
$3,408Highest 43% below MA |
$1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$2,053 66% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 22% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hancock 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Rowe | — | Hancock | — |
| High school 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.