Compare towns

Maynard vs Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Stow

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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).

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.

MeasureMaynardNorthfieldOgunquitStow
People
Population
10,712Highest
2,872
1,379Lowest
7,165
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
16% above U.S.
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.1±4.4Lowest
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Ogunquit 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.
$103,375±$10kLowest
28% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$185,809±$22kHighest
130% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31k
59% above U.S.
$375,800±$31kLowest
13% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$729,600±$39k
119% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Highest
27% above U.S.
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
$1,782±$126
26% above U.S.
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
165% above U.S.
$4,594
47% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stow and Northfield 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%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Stow 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 #231 of 282 in MA — #44 of 282 in MA
School district — Pioneer Valley — Nashoba
High school in town — Pioneer Valley Regional — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
— —
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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.