Compare towns
Maynard vs Windham vs Stow 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Windham | Stow | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
19,188Highest |
7,165Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Ipswich 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ipswich and Windham 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. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above 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. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Ipswich 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #44 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | RSU 14 | Nashoba | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Windham High School | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.1Highest |
— | 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.