Compare towns
Maynard vs Reading vs Stow
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 most affordable homes ($527k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Reading | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
25,612Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.