Compare towns
Stow vs Brewer vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Stow | Brewer | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
9,652Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #32 of 133 in ME | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Brewer Public Schools | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.