What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Maynard	Ashland
People
Population	10,712Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Maynard and Ashland 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%	18.4%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ashland and Maynard 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%	18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Maynard 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	$127,539±$11kHighest 23% above MA
	Ashland 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±$31kLowest 6% below MA	$611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Maynard 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%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and Ashland 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	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Ashland
High school in town	Maynard High	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.