Compare towns

Rowley vs Pelham vs Rowley

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 highest household income ($133k).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

MeasureRowleyPelhamRowley
People
Population
6,251Highest
1,335Lowest
1,708
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
45±8.4Lowest
13% above MA
46.3±16.7
16% above MA
Rowley 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%±4.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±6.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Pelham 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%
26.7%±6.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
Pelham 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
57.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
2%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Rowley 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±$32kHighest
28% above MA
$113,750±$24k
9% above MA
$109,622±$17kLowest
5% above MA
Rowley and Pelham 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
$447,600±$33kLowest
20% below MA
$614,800±$39k
9% above MA
Rowley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,603±$520
9% below MA
$1,205±$560Lowest
32% below MA
$1,663±$674Highest
6% below MA
Rowley and Rowley 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
$7,472
25% above MA
$6,865Lowest
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.7%±35.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.3%±45.1
MA: 51.8%
Rowley 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%
10.3%Highest
MA: 10%
6.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.1%
MA: 62.5%
78.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
3% below MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
25 min
15% below MA
Work from home
11.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
32.8%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #214 of 282 in MA — #214 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Pelham —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.