Compare towns
Maynard vs Ayer vs Stow vs Ipswich
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%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 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 | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,645 |
7,165Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%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 |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90 9% 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 |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Ipswich 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% 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 |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.