Compare towns
Boxborough vs Stow vs Sutton
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%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Boxborough | Stow | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
7,165 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Sutton 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Stow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below 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 |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.