Compare towns
Cochituate vs Topsfield 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).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k 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 | Cochituate | Topsfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,471Lowest |
6,564 |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Cochituate 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,361±$18k 85% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
| Topsfield and Cochituate 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 |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
| Cochituate and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,582±$649 10% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
| Stow and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Topsfield | 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.