Compare towns
Maynard vs Sterling vs Stow vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Sterling | Stow | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,629Lowest |
7,165 |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #44 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Sterling School District | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.