Compare towns
Boxborough vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Boxborough | Douglas | Sutton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Sutton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below 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 | $1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Boxborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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 | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Douglas | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.