Compare towns
Maynard vs Hooksett vs Northborough vs Ashland
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Northborough has the highest household income ($153k).
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.
| Measure | Maynard | Hooksett | Northborough | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
15,057 |
15,750 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3 16% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Northborough 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Ashland 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$620,000±$24kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269 36% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,983 156% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Hooksett School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Algonquin Regional High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.8 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.