Compare towns
Rowley vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newbury has the most expensive homes ($841k median).
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 | Plainfield | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
8,189 |
15,141Highest |
6,777 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.1±4.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Newbury 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plainfield 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newbury 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Newbury 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$174,868±$59kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 101% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$840,600±$40kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,806±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Newbury and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,661 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Newbury 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Newbury 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.