The Town FilesStow, Massachusetts
Town in Middlesex County · population 7,174 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $729,600
- Household income
- $185,809
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.1
Stow is a town of 7,174 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $729,600, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 91% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
How Stow ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Stow is worth $729,600, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $185,809, which is more affordable than 78% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,782 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stow | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $729,600 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,782 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $185,809 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Stow
| People | Stow | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 36.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 35.7 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Stow
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stow since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 91 deaths and 1,229 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on June 22, 1988.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Stow itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Stow
2 public schools with 737 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center School | PK-5 | 500 | 12.2 |
| Hale | 6-8 | 237 | 9.5 |
Towns near Stow
- Maynard, MA2.9 mi · 10,746 people · home $527,400
- Hudson, MA3.3 mi · 20,092 people · home $496,800
- Hudson, MA3.7 mi · 15,749 people · home $473,300
- Boxborough, MA3.9 mi · 5,506 people · home $706,900
- Bolton, MA4.6 mi · 5,665 people · home $796,000
- Acton, MA5.3 mi · 24,021 people · home $807,300
- Sudbury, MA5.7 mi · 18,934 people · home $988,900
- West Concord, MA5.8 mi · 6,320 people · home $904,200
Stow questions
Is Stow, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stow scores better for retirees than 71% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 42%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Stow?
The median owner-occupied home in Stow is valued at $729,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $185,809, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,782 a month.
What is the weather like in Stow?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 53.5 inches of snow.
Does Stow get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)