Compare towns

Whately vs Rowley vs New Braintree

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
New Braintree has the most affordable homes ($409k 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.

MeasureWhatelyRowleyNew Braintree
People
Population
1,499
6,251Highest
973Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
-0.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.3±6.7
23% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
47.8±4.6Lowest
20% above MA
Rowley and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
20%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
New Braintree and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±6.3
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
25.6%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
New Braintree and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%
MA: 47.3%
56.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Rowley and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,563±$15k
12% above MA
$132,734±$32kHighest
28% above MA
$99,500±$8kLowest
4% below MA
Rowley and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,500±$22k
23% below MA
$667,300±$52kHighest
19% above MA
$408,800±$27kLowest
27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,603±$520Highest
9% below MA
$1,484±$316
16% below MA
Rowley and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$5,508
8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±51.2
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and New Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1987Highest
23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
21% below MA
28 min
3% below MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4
MA: 18.6%
7.4%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Whately and Rowley 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 —
School district Whately Triton Quabbin
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.