Compare towns
Stow vs Stoneham vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
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 | Stoneham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535Highest |
271Lowest |
378 |
| Median age | 57±10.5 27% above ME |
60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
55.5±8.6Lowest 24% above ME |
| Stoneham 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 ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% ME: 36.2% |
37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham 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 44% below ME |
$63,750±$27kHighest 15% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Stoneham 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±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
$226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$209,700±$30kLowest 29% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$383 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 109% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.