What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

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	Bellingham
People
Population	10,712Lowest	17,410Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Bellingham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	40.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Maynard and Bellingham 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	$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA
	Bellingham 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±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$450,700±$13kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA
	Bellingham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$5,030Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bellingham 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%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	78.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and Bellingham 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	#232 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Bellingham
High school in town	Maynard High	Bellingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	12.4Highest
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.