Compare towns
Rowley vs Salem 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 expensive homes ($667k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Salem | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
44,795Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| 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±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.