Compare towns
Maynard vs Upton vs Ayer 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Upton | Ayer | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
8,189 |
8,645 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| 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 38% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.