What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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	Essex	Maynard
People
Population	3,701Lowest	10,712Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3.4Lowest 13% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Essex and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Maynard and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
	Essex and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average
	Essex 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	$8,266Lowest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Essex and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75% MA: 62.5%	75% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Manchester Essex Regional	Maynard
High school in town	None in town	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.7
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.