Compare towns
Webster vs Stow vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Webster | Stow | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
7,165Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,774Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Nashoba | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| 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.