Compare towns
Rowley vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 50).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k 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 | Windham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
16,038Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Windham 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 64% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28k 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 101% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Windham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,266Lowest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Windham School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.