Compare towns

Maynard vs Gorham vs Stow vs Northborough

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
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.

MeasureMaynardGorhamStowNorthborough
People
Population
10,712
18,300Highest
7,165Lowest
15,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
16% above U.S.
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
45±3
16% above U.S.
Maynard and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Stow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,067±$16k
54% above U.S.
$112,312±$6kLowest
39% above U.S.
$185,809±$22kHighest
130% above U.S.
$153,199±$19k
90% above U.S.
Stow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31k
59% above U.S.
$460,900±$26kLowest
39% above U.S.
$729,600±$39kHighest
119% above U.S.
$620,000±$24k
86% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
27% above U.S.
$1,680±$355Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,782±$126
26% above U.S.
$1,919±$269Highest
36% above U.S.
Northborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266
165% above U.S.
$4,825Lowest
55% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,983
156% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.1%±16.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Stow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±5.3
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 #166 of 282 in MA #24 of 133 in ME #44 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district — Gorham Public Schools Nashoba Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town — Gorham High School None in town Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9Highest
—
10.8Lowest
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.