What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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.

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

Measure	Stow	Lancaster
People
Population	7,165Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA	43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA
	Stow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stow and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lancaster and Stow 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%	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stow and Lancaster 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 79% above MA	$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA
	Lancaster 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 67% above MA	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster 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%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 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%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	33.6%±9.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stow and Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.