Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Ware vs Pelham vs Rowley
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 homeowners (82.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Ware | Pelham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
10,048Highest |
1,335Lowest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 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±$21k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% 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±$37k 28% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% 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 | $5,761 4% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Williamsburg 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.3% MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Williamsburg | Ware | Pelham | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.