Compare towns
Stow vs Ogunquit vs Gray vs Southborough
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Southborough has the most kids (27% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Gray | Southborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
1,379Lowest |
8,429 |
10,493Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.6±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southborough 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$196,808±$16kHighest 144% above U.S. |
| Southborough 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$821,100±$51k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,496±$309Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | #8 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Southborough |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.