Compare towns

Maynard vs Conway 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).
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).

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.

MeasureMaynardConwayStow
People
Population
10,712Highest
1,755Lowest
7,165
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
-7.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
55.6±3Highest
39% above MA
44.1±4.4Lowest
10% above MA
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
16.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
31.9%±4.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
60.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
75.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.6%±1.2Lowest
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±$16k
19% above MA
$97,250±$11kLowest
6% below MA
$185,809±$22kHighest
79% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31k
6% below MA
$395,900±$25kLowest
30% below MA
$729,600±$39kHighest
30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
$1,800±$990Highest
about the MA average
$1,782±$126Lowest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266
38% above MA
$5,797Lowest
3% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
23.9%±33.6Lowest
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%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
93.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
24 minLowest
18% below MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
29.1%±8.5
MA: 18.6%
36.6%±6.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Stow and Conway 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 Conway 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

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.