Compare towns
Maynard vs Acton vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Maynard | Acton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
24,155Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Maynard and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Acton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Acton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,983Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.