Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainville vs Upton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Northborough has the most expensive homes ($620k 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 | Plainville | Upton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,943 |
8,189Lowest |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Upton 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Upton 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±$31k 6% below MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Northborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,919±$269 9% above MA |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Upton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Upton 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Plainville | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.