Compare towns
Stow vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k 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.
| Measure | Stow | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Washington 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Washington 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 |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Washington 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.