Compare towns
Stow vs Washington 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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
526Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow 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 |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below 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 |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Topsfield |
| High school 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.