Compare towns
Maynard vs Petersham 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 renters (25% rent).
Petersham has the most affordable homes ($392k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Petersham | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
1,185Lowest |
15,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
45±3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Petersham 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 |
$110,750±$20kLowest 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 |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$620,000±$24kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,679±$441Lowest 5% 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Petersham | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 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.