Compare towns
Rowley vs Everett 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Everett | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
50,045Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
| Sterling 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Rowley and Sterling 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rowley and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Rowley 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Everett | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.