Compare towns
Stow vs Reading vs Maynard vs Acton
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).
Reading has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Reading | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
25,612Highest |
10,712 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Stow and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Reading and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Reading | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.