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 most affordable homes ($527k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 |
16,038Highest |
7,165Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 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%±3.5 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 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±$16kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% 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±$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±$148 27% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,960Lowest 155% 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% |
51.5%±12.2 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest 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. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Windham School District | Nashoba | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Windham High School | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.8Highest |
— | 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.