Compare towns
Rowley vs Ware vs Rowley vs Boxford
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Boxford has the most people working from home (23.9%).
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 | Ware | Rowley | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
10,048Highest |
1,708Lowest |
2,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
49.2±6.4 23% above MA |
| Rowley and Boxford 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±9.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±9 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Boxford 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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±$32k 28% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$188,482±$43kHighest 81% above MA |
| Boxford 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$979,100±$237kHighest 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 | $8,309 39% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
83.1%±73.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.9%±10.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ware | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.