Compare towns

Rowley vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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.

MeasureRowleySpringfieldRowley
People
Population
6,251
154,749Highest
1,708Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±6.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield 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%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Rowley 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%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
57.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.4%±5.8
MA: 7.9%
Springfield 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
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$109,622±$17k
5% above MA
Rowley 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
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% 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
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% 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
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,865
15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
46.3%±45.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
6.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
78.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
3% below MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
25 min
15% below MA
Work from home
11.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.9%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
Rowley and Rowley 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 #276 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Springfield —
High school in town None in town Springfield Central High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
—
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.