Compare towns
Stow vs Lee vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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 | Lee | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
5,719Lowest |
8,427Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Cohasset 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 79% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA |
| Cohasset 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 30% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Cohasset 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Lee | Cohasset |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.