Compare towns
Washington vs Stow vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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 | Washington | Stow | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526 |
7,165Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.