Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Rowley vs Pelham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,694 |
6,251Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Pelham 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 |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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 |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest 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% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
28 minHighest 3% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | Williamsburg | Triton | Pelham |
| 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.