Compare towns
Bolton vs Stow vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k median).
Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k median).
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 | Bolton | Stow | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737 |
7,165Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Stow and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
35 minLowest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.