Compare towns
Rowley vs Plainfield vs Upton vs Sterling
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Plainfield | Upton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
15,141Highest |
8,189 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 64% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 101% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Upton 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. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Upton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sterling 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.