Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Woolwich vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
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 | Stow | Woolwich | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165 |
3,158Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ipswich 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 54% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #92 of 133 in ME | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Nashoba | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.