Compare towns
Maynard vs Upton vs Canton 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Canton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,189 |
24,748Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%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 |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
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% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% 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%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton 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±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$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±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above 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% |
52.4%±9.1 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%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 |
1980 16 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 |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Blackstone Valley | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.