The town is located 21 miles (34 km) west of Boston, in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts.

With the exception of factories at Assabet Village and Rock Bottom (later Maynard and Gleasondale), Stow was primarily sparsely settled farm and orchard land until the 1950s.

John Kettell took up residence in a portion of land in the southwestern corner of Stow where another monument marks the alleged site of his farm.

Both families were affected by King Philip's War, an attempt by Native Americans to drive out colonists.

[4][5] The original development of Stow—a mile east of the current center, became known as Lower Village after a meeting hall, and later, churches, were built to the west.

Prior to that, what became Maynard was known as "Assabet Village" but was legally still part of the towns of Stow and Sudbury.

[7] In 1942 the U.S. Army seized about one-tenth of the town's land area, from the south side, to create a munitions storage facility.

[12] On New Year's Day, 1984, Kevin Walsh took off from Minute Man Air Field with 57 helium balloons tied to a lawn chair, later descending by parachute.

Major bodies of water are Assabet River, Elizabeth Brook, Lake Boon, White's Pond and Delaney Flood Control Project, in the northwest corner.

[6] An 1856 map[19] shows Assabet as a village on the eastern border – this became the center of the Town of Maynard in 1871.

The best known of these is Stow Acres Country Club (36 holes), the site of the 1995 US Amateur Public Links Championship.

Hawkins bought the property in 1926, and it was home to the first three United States Colored Golf Association (USCGA) Opens from 1926-1928.

[35] A significant portion of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge (opened in 2005) is located in Stow.

[36] Pine Bluffs is a 34-acre (14 ha) park and beach located off Sudbury Road on the northern shore of Lake Boone.

[38] The forest nearby contains many trails including well as a dropoff for launching canoes and kayaks, and contains a tire swing overlooking the lake as well as a popular hill that locals have parties at.

Before the meeting, a warrant is distributed to households in Stow and posted on the town's website.

Important budgetary issues approved at a town meeting must be passed by a subsequent ballot vote.

Also filled by election are the School Committee, Housing Authority, Randall Library Trustees and a Moderator to preside over the town meetings.

On the federal level, Stow is part of Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district, represented by Lori Trahan.

Stow is a member of the Nashoba Regional School District, also serving the towns of Lancaster and Bolton.