Compare towns
Ashland vs Maynard vs Ogunquit vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Ashland | Maynard | Ogunquit | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
10,712 |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Maynard | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Maynard High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.