Compare towns
Stow vs Wilder vs Stoneham
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).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
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 | Wilder | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
3,087Highest |
271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +81.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5 47% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.6±7.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.8%±13.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$63,750±$27k 21% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Stoneham 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 |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$226,200±$32kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Stow and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$383Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$1,426Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoneham and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.