Compare towns
Boxborough vs Stow vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
7,165 |
15,295Highest |
| 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±1.6 7% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Whitman 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Boxborough 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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Whitman 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 39% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% 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 | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% 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 |
$1,771±$151Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Stow 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Nashoba | Whitman-Hanson |
| 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.