Compare towns
Stow vs Plainville 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%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Plainville | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
9,943 |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Plainville | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.