Compare towns
Maynard vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sheffield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,330Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Sheffield 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 |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% 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 |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Southern Berkshire | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Mt Everett Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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| 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.