Compare towns
Rowley vs Brewster vs Upton vs Sterling
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 renters (18.3% rent).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
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 | Brewster | Upton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
10,420Highest |
8,189 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Upton and Rowley 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 |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Brewster and Rowley 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 |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Rowley 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 |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Rowley 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Brewster | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.