Compare towns
Northampton vs Ogunquit vs Stow vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Northampton | Ogunquit | Stow | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,962 |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Stow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — | Nashoba | Norwood |
| High school in town | Northampton High | — | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.