Compare towns
Rowley vs Williamsburg vs Pelham
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%).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Williamsburg | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708 |
2,694Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$113,750±$24kHighest 9% above MA |
| Pelham 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 |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% 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 |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
25 minHighest 13% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Williamsburg | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.