Compare towns
Stow vs Ayer vs Maynard vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Maynard has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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 | Stow | Ayer | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
8,645 |
10,712 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Acton 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.