Compare towns
Stoddard vs Stow vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Stoddard | Stow | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
7,165Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4 36% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Washington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Nashoba | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.