Compare towns
Stow vs Upton vs Uxbridge 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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
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 | Upton | Uxbridge | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
8,189 |
14,473Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% 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 |
42.2±1.8 6% 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Uxbridge 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$124,725±$7kLowest 20% 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±$39k 30% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$441,100±$25kLowest 22% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,555±$265 12% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Stow and Uxbridge 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% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Upton 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 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 |
28 minLowest 5% below 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% |
29.4%±8.1 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Uxbridge | Topsfield |
| 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.