Compare towns
Stow vs Webster vs Cohasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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 | Webster | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
2,227Lowest |
8,427Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.9±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Webster and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cohasset and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cohasset 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 130% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$199,306±$53kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Cohasset 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 119% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 296% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,755±$399Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±15.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Cohasset 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 | — | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Merrimack Valley School District | Cohasset |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.