Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
9,943 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow 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% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville and Stow 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Plainville | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | 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.