Compare towns
Sherborn vs Hatfield vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.
| Measure | Sherborn | Hatfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427 |
3,325Lowest |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Hatfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn 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 | #53 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Hatfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.