Compare towns

Maynard vs Northbridge vs Northborough

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 people working from home (22.9%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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.

MeasureMaynardNorthbridgeNorthborough
People
Population
10,712Lowest
16,458Highest
15,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
43.8±2.6Lowest
9% above MA
45±3
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%
21.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Northborough and Northbridge 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%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3
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%
MA: 47.3%
36.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Northborough and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,067±$16k
19% above MA
$111,319±$19kLowest
7% 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±$31k
6% below MA
$448,600±$15kLowest
20% below MA
$620,000±$24kHighest
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$1,207±$102Lowest
31% below MA
$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
$4,821Lowest
20% below MA
$7,983
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±9.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3
MA: 51.8%
Northbridge 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%
7.9%
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
70.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
9% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±5.3
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 #226 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Northbridge Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town Maynard High Northbridge High Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
10.8Highest
10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.