Compare towns
Stow vs Lenox 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 most people working from home (36.6%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Lenox | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
5,079Lowest |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Maynard 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox and Stow 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 |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Lenox | Maynard |
| High school in town | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.