Compare towns
Stow vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Boxborough
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%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
8,517 |
15,141Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Boxborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.