Compare towns
Marlow vs Stow vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Monroe has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Marlow | Stow | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
7,165Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Nashoba | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.