Compare towns
Maynard vs Middlefield vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Middlefield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Highest |
352Lowest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Maynard and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Maynard and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— |
| Middlefield 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 |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Middlefield 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| 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.