Compare towns

Maynard vs Danvers vs Stow vs Sudbury

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).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Sudbury has the most expensive homes ($989k median).

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.

MeasureMaynardDanversStowSudbury
People
Population
10,712
28,098Highest
7,165Lowest
19,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
42.3±2.1Lowest
6% above MA
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
28.5%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Sudbury and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers 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%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
75.1%
MA: 47.3%
83.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sudbury and Danvers 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
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$185,809±$22k
79% above MA
$236,250±$17kHighest
127% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$729,600±$39k
30% above MA
$988,900±$42kHighest
76% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,782±$126
about the MA average
$1,445±$895Lowest
18% below MA
Danvers and Maynard 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
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
59.7%±44.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.8%±12.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Stow and Danvers 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%
4.8%
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.4%
MA: 62.5%
89.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
36 minHighest
23% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
36.6%±6.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
33%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Stow and Sudbury 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 #91 of 282 in MA #44 of 282 in MA #15 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Nashoba Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury
High school in town Maynard High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
12.8Highest
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11.3
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.