Compare towns
Stow vs Unity vs Chatham
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 oldest population (median age 57).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
1,858Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
27.5±2.2Lowest 29% below U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
30%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$62,857±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73 38% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$2,510Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,690Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.8%±13Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Chatham 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% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.