Compare towns
Maynard vs Scituate 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).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k 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 | Scituate | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
19,365Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Scituate 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% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Scituate 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% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate 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±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Stow 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 |
$8,807 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Scituate 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% 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 minLowest 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Scituate | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.