Compare towns
Maynard vs Ware vs Sudbury 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Sudbury has the most expensive homes ($989k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Ware | Sudbury | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
10,048 |
19,306Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Sudbury 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Sudbury and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$988,900±$42kHighest 76% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,445±$895 18% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Sudbury 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Ware | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.3Highest |
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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.