Compare towns

Maynard vs Marblehead 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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.

MeasureMaynardMarbleheadNorthborough
People
Population
10,712Lowest
20,413Highest
15,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
45±3Lowest
13% above MA
Marblehead 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%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Northborough and Marblehead 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
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$153,199±$19k
47% above MA
Marblehead and Northborough 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
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$620,000±$24k
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$7,983Lowest
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Northborough and Marblehead 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%
4.4%
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marblehead 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 #47 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Marblehead Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town Maynard High Marblehead High Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
10.7
10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.