Compare towns

Rowe vs Worcester vs Monroe

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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureRoweWorcesterMonroe
People
Population
453
831Highest
122Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.9±6.4
26% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% above U.S.
60.2±9.9Highest
55% above U.S.
Monroe and Rowe 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±28
U.S.: 22%
Rowe and Monroe 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Monroe and Worcester 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
14% below U.S.
$73,833±$18kHighest
9% below U.S.
—
Worcester 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±$41kHighest
17% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$165,000±$141kLowest
50% below U.S.
Rowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,313±$576Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
Rowe and Worcester 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.
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$2,053
34% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.8%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Worcester and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
38.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
35% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
56 minHighest
113% above U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
0%±41.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Rowe Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.