Compare towns

Rowley vs Ware vs Rowley

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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).

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.

MeasureRowleyWareRowley
People
Population
1,708Lowest
10,048Highest
6,251
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±16.7
16% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±6.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Rowley and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±4.1
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Rowley and Rowley 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
$132,734±$32kHighest
28% above MA
Rowley 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±$39k
9% above MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$667,300±$52kHighest
19% above MA
Rowley and Rowley 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
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,603±$520
9% below MA
Rowley 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±45.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Rowley 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%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
15% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
3% below MA
Work from home
10.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Rowley 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 #214 of 282 in MA
School district — Ware Triton
High school in town — Ware Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.