Compare towns
Cochituate vs Lancaster vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cochituate has the most expensive homes ($906k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Cochituate | Lancaster | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,471Lowest |
8,606Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Cochituate and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Cochituate and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Cochituate and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,582±$649Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.