Compare towns
Maynard vs Ashfield vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Ashfield has the oldest population (median age 58.6).
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 | Maynard | Ashfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
1,893Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$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 | $8,266 38% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.