Compare towns
Rowley vs Upton vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Rowley | Upton | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
8,189Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39kHighest 9% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.