Compare towns
Stow vs Jackson vs Lowell
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 kids (15.7% under 18).
Jackson has the highest household income ($118k).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Jackson | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
897Highest |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5 47% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
55.5±8.6Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31k 37% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$209,700±$30kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,478Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jackson School District | — |
| High school 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.