Compare towns
Rowley vs Berlin vs Upton vs Millis
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 most expensive homes ($667k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Berlin | Upton | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
3,378Lowest |
8,189 |
8,888Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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±$32k 28% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis 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±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
| Rowley and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
| Berlin and Millis 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Berlin-Boylston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millis |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.