Compare towns
Stow vs Upton vs Uxbridge 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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 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 | Upton | Uxbridge | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
8,189 |
14,473Highest |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.7±2.8Lowest 4% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Upton and Stow 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxborough and Uxbridge 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 79% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$124,725±$7kLowest 20% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Stow and Boxborough 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,836Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Uxbridge | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Uxbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.