What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).

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	North Brookfield
People
Population	10,712Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA
	Maynard and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Brookfield 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±$16kHighest 19% above MA	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$4,176Lowest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	North Brookfield
High school in town	Maynard High	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	5.5Lowest
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.