Compare towns
Maynard vs Ayer vs Stow vs Hadley
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ayer | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
8,645 |
7,165 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
— | 7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.