What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stow	Harvard
People
Population	7,165Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.4 10% above MA	44.1±4.7 10% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stow and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stow and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Harvard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
	Harvard 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±$39kLowest 30% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Stow and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	36.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Harvard 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	#44 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Harvard
High school in town	None in town	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

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.