Compare towns
Maynard vs Worcester vs Ipswich vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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.
| Measure | Maynard | Worcester | Ipswich | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
207,055Highest |
13,930 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ipswich | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | South High Community | Ipswich High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
14.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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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.