Compare towns
Marlow vs Stow vs Stoddard
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 affordable homes ($325k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
7,165Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Marlow 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% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Stoddard 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. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above 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% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Stoddard 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Nashoba | Stoddard 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.