Compare towns
Stow vs Berlin vs Acton vs Maynard
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).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Berlin | Acton | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
3,378Lowest |
24,155Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Berlin and Maynard 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% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 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%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% 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 |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Acton 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.