Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainfield 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 renters (25% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
616Lowest |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45±3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Plainfield and Maynard 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northborough and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Northborough 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northborough 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% 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 |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | — | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.