What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has the highest household income ($68k).

Stow has the most kids (15.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Stow
People
Population	790Highest	535Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.5±9.7Lowest 20% above U.S.	57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S.
	Stow and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stow and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Albany and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,639±$19kHighest 16% below U.S.	$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Albany and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,300±$68kLowest 25% below U.S.	$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average
	Stow and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$112 15% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,554Lowest 18% below U.S.	$3,304Highest 6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±97.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Albany and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	51 minHighest 95% above U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.