Compare towns
Stow vs Brewer vs Maynard vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Brewer | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
9,652 |
10,712 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Acton 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 130% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| 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 119% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Brewer Public Schools | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
9.7Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.