Compare towns
Rowley vs Chilmark 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 most kids (19.3% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k 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 | Chilmark | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Highest |
1,578Lowest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
| Chilmark and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Boylston 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% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Boylston 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Chilmark and Boylston 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 |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Chilmark and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Boylston 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Boylston 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 | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Up-Island Regional | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| 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.