Compare towns
Hanson vs Maynard vs Stow vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
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 | Hanson | Maynard | Stow | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
10,712Highest |
7,165 |
1,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44±4.3 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 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
25%±5.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
— |
| Hanson and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,429 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hanson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±5.6 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Maynard | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Maynard High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.