Compare towns
Gardner vs Maynard vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Gardner | Maynard | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Maynard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.