Compare towns
Rowley vs Everett vs Sterling 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 expensive homes ($667k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Boylston has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
50,045Highest |
8,183 |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% 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 |
48.2±2.3 21% 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$32k 28% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston 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±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% 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 |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Everett | Wachusett | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.