What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).

Rumney has the highest household income ($79k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stow	Rumney
People
Population	535Lowest	1,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S.	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Stow 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%	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average
	Rumney and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,064±$100 25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S.	$4,716Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Stow 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%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	51 minHighest 95% above U.S.	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Rumney School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.