Compare towns
Maynard vs Heath 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).
Heath has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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.
| Measure | Maynard | Heath | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
765Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$98,750±$23kLowest 5% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Heath 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 | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | 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.
