Compare towns
Maynard vs North Reading vs Hadley 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 housing (typical home built 1963).
North Reading has the youngest population (median age 43).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 Reading | Hadley | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
15,765Highest |
5,306Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and North Reading 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 |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| North Reading and Maynard 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | North Reading | Hadley | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | North Reading High | Hopkins Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.1Highest |
7.3Lowest |
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| 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.