Compare towns
Rowley vs Scituate vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Rowley | Scituate | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
19,365Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Scituate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Scituate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Scituate 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Scituate | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.