Compare towns
Stow vs Pelham vs Cohasset
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%).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 | Pelham | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
14,449Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.9±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Stow and Cohasset 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% |
22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cohasset and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 130% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$199,306±$53kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 296% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,755±$399Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±15.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Pelham School District | Cohasset |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.