Compare towns
Maynard vs North Brookfield vs Ware 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | North Brookfield | Ware | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
4,760Lowest |
10,048 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and North Brookfield 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% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Ware 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% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| North Brookfield and Ware 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 |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,782±$126 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 |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | North Brookfield | Ware | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | North Brookfield High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
5.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.