Compare towns

Maynard vs Upton vs Dedham 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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.

MeasureMaynardUptonDedhamNorthborough
People
Population
10,712
8,189Lowest
25,237Highest
15,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dedham 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%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%
MA: 47.3%
65.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Dedham 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±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$128,955±$10k
24% 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±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$620,000±$24k
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,919±$269
9% above MA
Dedham 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$7,918Lowest
32% above MA
$7,983
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3
MA: 51.8%
Dedham 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%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Lowest
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 #46 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Dedham Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town — Blackstone Valley Dedham High Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
10.4Lowest
10.8
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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.