What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stow	Rye
People
Population	7,165Highest	5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stow and Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S.
	Stow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$729,600±$39kLowest 119% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Stow and Rye 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.	$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashoba	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.