Compare towns

Rowley vs Hull 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 kids (19.3% under 18).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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.

MeasureRowleyHullBoylston
People
Population
6,251
10,138Highest
4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3
25% above MA
56.1±1.8Highest
40% above MA
48.2±2.3Lowest
21% above MA
Hull and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
Rowley and Boylston 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%
26.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22%±4.1
MA: 17.9%
Hull 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%
50.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
54.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Rowley and Hull 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
$115,485±$14kLowest
11% 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
$646,000±$38k
15% above MA
$578,600±$47kLowest
about the MA average
Rowley and Hull 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
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$2,032±$350
15% above MA
Hull 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
$6,089Lowest
about the MA average
$7,266
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±14
MA: 51.8%
45.1%±16.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Hull 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%
5.8%
MA: 10%
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
79.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
3% below MA
33 minHighest
14% above MA
27 minLowest
8% below MA
Work from home
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Boylston and Hull 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 #66 of 282 in MA #72 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Hull Berlin-Boylston
High school in town None in town Hull High Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.8Lowest
11.1Highest
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.