Compare towns

Rowe vs Webster vs Sandisfield

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 affordable homes ($275k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sandisfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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.

MeasureRoweWebsterSandisfield
People
Population
453Lowest
17,748Highest
994
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.9±6.4
22% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
49.9±7.5Highest
25% above MA
Sandisfield 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%
14%±2.9Lowest
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%
28%±5.6
MA: 17.9%
Rowe and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
26%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
7.8%±4.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sandisfield and Webster 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
$91,111±$23kHighest
12% below MA
Sandisfield 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±$41kLowest
51% below MA
$361,500±$12kHighest
36% below MA
$360,300±$34k
36% below MA
Webster and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,313±$576Highest
25% below MA
$1,228±$81Lowest
30% below MA
$1,250±$220
29% below MA
Rowe and Sandisfield 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
$3,328
44% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
66.7%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
Sandisfield and Webster 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%
96.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
22% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
31 min
8% above MA
Work from home
7.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
16.5%±8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Sandisfield 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.