Compare towns
Maynard vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough and Putnam 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 54% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,919±$269Highest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard and Northborough 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.