Compare towns
Stow vs Smithfield vs Maynard
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 most people working from home (36.6%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
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 | Smithfield | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
22,233Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Smithfield | Maynard |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.