Compare towns
Stow vs West Bath vs Boxborough
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%).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | West Bath | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
1,863Lowest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Boxborough 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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and West Bath 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 130% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% 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% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | — | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | West Bath Public Schools | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.