Compare towns
Topsfield vs Pomfret vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Pomfret has the most affordable homes ($409k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Topsfield | Pomfret | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
4,317Lowest |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #172 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Pomfret School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.