Compare towns
Rowley vs Acton vs Upton vs Boylston
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 population (median age 50).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Acton | Upton | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
24,155Highest |
8,189 |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Acton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Acton-Boxborough | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.