Compare towns
Stow vs Hampton vs Boxborough vs Acton
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 highest household income ($186k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k 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 | Hampton | Boxborough | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
16,426 |
5,496Lowest |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Acton 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. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton 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. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Acton and Boxborough 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. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Acton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #31 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Acton-Boxborough | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.