Compare towns
Maynard vs Alstead 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).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Alstead | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
1,551Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest 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. |
$5,322Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.