Compare towns
Maynard vs Exeter vs Northborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Northborough has the most kids (21.6% 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Exeter | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Northborough 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±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,983Lowest 156% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard and Northborough 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Exeter High School | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.