Compare towns
Chatham vs Middlesex 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
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Chatham | Middlesex | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,943Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.