Compare towns
Maynard vs Northborough vs Ipswich
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).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Northborough | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
15,750Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45±3Lowest 13% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich 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% |
21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Northborough and Ipswich 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% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Northborough and Ipswich 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±$24k 10% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below 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 |
$7,983 33% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Northborough 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Algonquin Regional High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.