What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most homeowners (75%).

Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($1092k median).

Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Cambridge
People
Population	10,712Lowest	118,796Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Maynard and Cambridge 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%	12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	80.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA	$130,748±$4kHighest 26% above MA
	Cambridge 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	$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$4,802Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	45%±2.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Cambridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	12.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Cambridge and Maynard 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	#122 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Cambridge
High school in town	Maynard High	Cambridge Rindge and Latin
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	9.3Lowest
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.