Compare towns
Stow vs Woolwich vs Maynard vs Acton
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 highest household income ($186k).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k 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 | Woolwich | Maynard | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
3,158Lowest |
10,712 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stow 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 130% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton 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. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Acton 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 221% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Stow 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.