Population 7,137 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Stow
Household size in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.83 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.78 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Stow average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.83, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.7 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.0 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Stow skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Stow than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Boston area. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 6.2 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Stow
Renters in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Stow is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 29.7% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.0 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 2.0% of homes in Stow are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 4.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 13 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Stow is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Still, homes here are newer than in the Boston area overall, where the median home dates to 1964. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,690 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,379 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,480 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,248 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$558 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Stow pays $2,248 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $558 a month from 2006–10, a 33% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Stow
Bachelor's degrees in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.1% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.1% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 74.2% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 76.5% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Stow: 76.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.3 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.9% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.0% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.4% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Stow: 98.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only 19 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Stow
| Period | Stow | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Stow runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Stow compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stow | 2.62 | 45.1 | 8.9% | 14.7% | 2.0% | 1971 | $2,248 | 76.5% | 98.4% | 3.6% |
| Maynard | 2.22 | 45.9 | 6.2% | 24.4% | 6.0% | 1960 | $1,821 | 65.1% | 95.0% | 5.5% |
| Pine Lake | 2.81 | 44.9 | 6.4% | 21.3% | 5.0% | 1982 | $1,712 | 80.2% | 97.7% | 4.8% |
| Hudson | 2.46 | 44.2 | 5.8% | 26.9% | 6.2% | 1974 | $1,391 | 46.4% | 91.6% | 4.9% |
| Boxborough | 2.47 | 44.7 | 8.4% | 26.4% | 4.1% | 1986 | $2,247 | 80.7% | 96.8% | 4.9% |
| South Bolton | 2.82 | 40.9 | 4.9% | 5.5% | 2.1% | 1983 | $1,895 | 84.6% | 99.8% | 7.3% |
| Bolton | 2.89 | 41.5 | 3.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 1986 | $1,480 | 82.0% | 99.9% | 5.3% |
| Acton | 2.58 | 44.6 | 5.2% | 24.8% | 2.9% | 1975 | $1,810 | 79.6% | 98.0% | 4.1% |
| Sudbury | 3.06 | 42.6 | 6.9% | 10.0% | 4.6% | 1977 | $1,526 | 83.4% | 98.7% | 4.1% |
| Harvard | 2.93 | 43.4 | 2.5% | 9.3% | 7.8% | 1975 | $2,301 | 76.9% | 99.6% | 4.7% |
| West Concord | 2.57 | 47.2 | 8.2% | 36.2% | 9.3% | 1975 | $2,624 | 73.8% | 94.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Air Force Academy, CO · Albany, LA · Orange City, IA · Osage Beach, MO · Orwigsburg, PA · Orono, MN · Ormond-by-the-Sea, FL · Orland Hills, IL · Oreland, PA · Orefield, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Stow. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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