Compare towns
Berlin vs Boxborough vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Berlin | Boxborough | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,496 |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1989 25 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.