Compare towns

Maynard vs Windham vs Stow

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 most affordable homes ($527k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureMaynardWindhamStow
People
Population
10,712
16,038Highest
7,165Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
16% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stow and Maynard 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%
62.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham 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
54% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$185,809±$22k
130% above U.S.
Windham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31kLowest
59% above U.S.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$729,600±$39kHighest
119% above U.S.
Stow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
27% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,782±$126Lowest
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266Lowest
165% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stow and Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2Highest
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 #13 of 120 in NH #44 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Windham School District Nashoba
High school in town Maynard High Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
12.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.