What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Maynard	Northborough
People
Population	10,712Lowest	15,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA	45±3Lowest 13% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough 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%	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Maynard and Northborough 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%	65.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough 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	$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA
	Northborough 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	$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest 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	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$7,983Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±16.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northborough 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard and Northborough 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	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Maynard High	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.