What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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	Natick
People
Population	10,712Lowest	36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA
	Maynard and Natick 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%	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Natick 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%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Maynard 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	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA
	Natick 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	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Lowest 38% above MA	$8,914Highest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Maynard and Natick 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Natick 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	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Natick
High school in town	Maynard High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	12.6Highest
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.