Compare towns
Rowley vs Upton vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 50).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Upton | Needham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
8,189 |
32,459Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Needham and Boylston 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Needham 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.