Compare towns
Stow vs Windham 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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Windham | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
16,038Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Maynard 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% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
| Stow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,266Lowest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.