Compare towns
Maynard vs Upton vs Ipswich 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).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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 | Upton | Ipswich | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,189Lowest |
13,930 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45±3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
18.9%±2.7 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% |
60.2% 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% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% 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 |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% 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 | $8,266 38% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Ipswich 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as 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% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ipswich | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Ipswich High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.