What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k 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	Rumney	Stow
People
Population	1,458Lowest	7,165Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Rumney and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#44 of 282 in MA
School district	Rumney 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.