Compare towns
Stow vs Lyndeborough vs Topsfield
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%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Lyndeborough | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
1,616Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Topsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsfield 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±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield 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 119% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Stow and Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Lowest 129% 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% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.