Compare towns

Rowe vs Webster vs Peru

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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Peru has the most people working from home (10.3%).

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.

MeasureRoweWebsterPeru
People
Population
453Lowest
17,748Highest
630
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±6.4
22% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
52.6±4.8Highest
32% above MA
Peru and Rowe 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%
19.6%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Rowe and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.2%±8.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
29.7%±6.9
MA: 17.9%
Rowe and Peru 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%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Webster 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±$13kLowest
33% below MA
$72,895±$6k
30% below MA
$90,750±$18kHighest
13% below MA
Peru and Webster 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
$361,500±$12kHighest
36% below MA
$267,400±$15kLowest
52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,313±$576Highest
25% below MA
$1,228±$81Lowest
30% below MA
—
Rowe and Webster 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
$3,999Highest
33% below MA
$3,805
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±100
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Webster 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
MA: 10%
12.7%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
22% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
7.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Peru and Webster 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 — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district Rowe Webster —
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
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.