Compare towns
Maynard vs Exeter vs Northborough 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Exeter | Northborough | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
16,151Highest |
15,750 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Northborough 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19k 90% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,983Lowest 156% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Exeter High School | Algonquin Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.