Compare towns

Hampton vs Maynard vs Stow vs Hampstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonMaynardStowHampstead
People
Population
10,101
10,712Highest
7,165Lowest
9,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±1.7Highest
32% above U.S.
45.3±4.3
16% above U.S.
44.1±4.4Lowest
13% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Hampton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Stow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
64.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampstead and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4kLowest
20% above U.S.
$124,067±$16k
54% above U.S.
$185,809±$22kHighest
130% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63k
64% above U.S.
$527,400±$31k
59% above U.S.
$729,600±$39kHighest
119% above U.S.
$521,100±$45kLowest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,800±$148Highest
27% above U.S.
$1,782±$126
26% above U.S.
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872Lowest
120% above U.S.
$8,266
165% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
20% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #31 of 120 in NH #166 of 282 in MA #44 of 282 in MA #49 of 120 in NH
School district — Maynard Nashoba Hampstead School District
High school in town — Maynard High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.7
— —
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.