Compare towns
Maynard vs Harvard vs Upton 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 renters (25% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Upton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,927Lowest |
8,189 |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Maynard 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% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$620,000±$24k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,983Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Upton 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Harvard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Maynard High | The Bromfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.0 |
11.2Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.