Compare towns
Rowley vs Hamilton 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 oldest population (median age 50).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Hamilton | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
7,600Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston 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% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Hamilton 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% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% 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±$52k 19% above MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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 |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hamilton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Hamilton-Wenham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.