What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

Stow has the most kids (22.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	Stow
People
Population	897Lowest	7,165Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S.	$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S.
	Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kLowest 116% above U.S.	$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S.
	Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S.	$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S.
	Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stow and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Jackson 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	—	#44 of 282 in MA
School district	Jackson School District	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.