Compare towns
Maynard vs Hampton 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Hampton | Stow | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
16,426Highest |
7,165Lowest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%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%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough and Stow 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 54% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% 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±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% 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. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,813Lowest 118% 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%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 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% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Nashoba | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.