Compare towns
Rowley vs Wareham vs Millis vs Sterling
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 expensive homes ($667k median).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Wareham | Millis | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
23,302Highest |
8,888 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Wareham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Millis 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Millis 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
| Millis 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 19% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,500±$31k 7% above MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,696±$279 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Millis 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and Millis 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Wareham | Millis | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.