Compare towns
Rowley vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Boylston has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Putnam | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
9,292Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowley and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| 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 101% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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 | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Putnam School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.