Compare towns
Rowley vs Union vs Chaplin 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Union | Chaplin | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
4,948 |
| 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. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Boylston 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% 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. |
— | $1,473±$275Lowest 4% above 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,266 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Rowley 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Chaplin 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 | — | — | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.