Compare towns
Chatham vs Wilder 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Wilder | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
3,087Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +81.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Chatham 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. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.