Compare towns
Rowley vs Woonsocket vs Boylston vs Sterling
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%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Woonsocket | Boylston | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
43,521Highest |
4,948Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Boylston 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% |
48.3% 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% |
4.8%±1.8 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. |
$129,063±$27k 60% 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. |
$498,800±$48k 50% 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. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Sterling 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. |
$6,757 117% 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% |
46%±23.1 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boylston and Sterling 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #72 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Tahanto Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.