Compare towns
Stow vs Reading vs Topsfield
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%).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
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 | Reading | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
25,612Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Stow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Reading 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% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 79% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| 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±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Topsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Reading | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.