Compare towns
Stow vs Kittery 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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Kittery | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
10,473 |
10,712 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above 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. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above 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. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% 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% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%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. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 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. |
20 minLowest 24% 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% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Kittery Public Schools | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.