Compare towns
Maynard vs Dunstable vs Stow vs Hadley
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dunstable | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,408Lowest |
7,165 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
62.4% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dunstable 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Dunstable and Stow 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 |
$674,000±$30k 20% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Stow and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| 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 |
$9,020 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Stow 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Groton-Dunstable | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | — | 7.3Lowest |
| 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.