Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hampton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
16,426Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.