Compare towns
Maynard vs Harvard vs Stow vs Ipswich
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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 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 | Harvard | Stow | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,927Lowest |
7,165 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ipswich and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Harvard 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±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Harvard and Ipswich 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 |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90 9% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harvard and Stow 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Harvard | Nashoba | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.0Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.