Compare towns
Rowley vs Sterling vs Upton vs Edgartown
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 renters (18.3% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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 | Sterling | Upton | Edgartown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
8,183 |
8,189Highest |
5,278Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Edgartown and Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$125,236±$33kLowest 20% above MA |
| 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±$52k 19% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,796±$470Highest about the MA average |
| Edgartown and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Edgartown and Upton 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #242 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Wachusett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Edgartown |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.