Compare towns
Maynard vs Wilbraham vs Upton 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 renters (25% rent).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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.
| Measure | Maynard | Wilbraham | Upton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
14,572Highest |
8,189 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 19% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $8,266 38% above MA |
$6,658Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Minnechaug Regional High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.