Compare towns
Rowley vs Natick 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).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k median).
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 | Natick | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
36,873Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick 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±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston and Natick 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 |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Natick and Boylston 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Boylston 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% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Natick | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Natick High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
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.