Compare towns
Sherborn vs Topsfield 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 people working from home (49.1%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k median).
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 | Topsfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
6,564 |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield 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 |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Topsfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.