Compare towns
Rowley vs Colebrook vs Upton vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Upton | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
1,494Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook 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 64% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Upton 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±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$6,211Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Colebrook School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.