Compare towns
Maynard vs Athol vs Maynard vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Athol | Maynard | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
12,011 |
10,712Lowest |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
| Northborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA |
| Northborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Maynard | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Maynard High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.