What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 Reading
People
Population	10,712Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Maynard and North Reading 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%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and North Reading 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%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Lowest 38% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Maynard 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	North Reading
High school in town	Maynard High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.1Highest
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.