What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most expensive homes ($934k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Maynard
People
Population	46,350Highest	10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Arlington and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Arlington and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Highest 60% above MA	$8,266Lowest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Maynard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 282 in MA	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	Maynard
High school in town	Arlington High	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.