What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).

Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

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	Paxton	Stow
People
Population	5,002Lowest	7,165Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA	44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA
	Stow and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stow and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stow and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA	$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA	$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stow and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Stow and Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA	#44 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.