Compare towns
Stow vs Windham vs Maynard vs Topsfield
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).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
16,038Highest |
10,712 |
6,564Lowest |
| 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% |
+8% 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. |
42.2±1.8 8% 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% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Topsfield 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield 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% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% 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% |
3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5% 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% |
90.4% 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. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% 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% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Windham School District | Maynard | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.