Compare towns

Rowley vs Woonsocket 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 most expensive homes ($667k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

MeasureRowleyWoonsocketBoylston
People
Population
6,251
43,521Highest
4,948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3Highest
29% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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
64% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$140,962±$28kHighest
75% above U.S.
Boylston 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
101% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$578,600±$47k
74% above U.S.
Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,603±$520
13% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,032±$350Highest
44% above U.S.
Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
166% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$7,266
133% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rowley and Woonsocket 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.1%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #214 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #72 of 282 in MA
School district Triton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Berlin-Boylston
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Tahanto Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
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.