Compare towns
Sherborn vs Smithfield vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most expensive homes ($1027k median).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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.
| Measure | Sherborn | Smithfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
22,233Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Stow and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Smithfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.