Compare towns
Rowley vs Ware vs Pelham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Ware | Pelham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
10,048Highest |
1,335Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Pelham 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% 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 | $6,865 15% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Berlin 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Pelham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.