Compare towns
Rowley vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Upton | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
2,605Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$32k 64% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%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% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Upton 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 | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school 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.