Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Rowley vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
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.
| Measure | Williamsburg | Rowley | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694Lowest |
6,251Highest |
4,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
48.2±2.3Lowest 21% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Triton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.