Compare towns
Carlisle vs Maynard vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carlisle has the most expensive homes ($1104k median).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Chelmsford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Carlisle | Maynard | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,239Lowest |
10,712 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.1Highest 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Carlisle and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Carlisle and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 87.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chelmsford and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$140,629±$8k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,103,900±$46kHighest 96% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$855Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Chelmsford 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 67% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,047Lowest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77%±21.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Carlisle and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 38.5%±8.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Carlisle 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 | #24 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carlisle | Maynard | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.