Compare towns
Maynard vs Bedford vs Maynard vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($899k median).
Stow has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Bedford | Maynard | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
14,727Highest |
10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Bedford 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% |
19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford 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 |
$172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Bedford 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 |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 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% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Bedford 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Bedford | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Bedford High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.