Compare towns
Maynard vs Woolwich vs Stow vs Hadley
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).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Woolwich | Stow | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
3,158Lowest |
7,165 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich and Hadley 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% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #44 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Nashoba | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | — | 7.3Lowest |
| 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.