Compare towns
Stow vs Topsfield vs Boxborough
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%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Topsfield | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
6,564 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Topsfield 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$144,611±$35kLowest 39% 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±$39k 30% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
| Boxborough and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Topsfield | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.