Compare towns

Maynard vs Plainfield vs Sudbury

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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).

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.

MeasureMaynardPlainfieldSudbury
People
Population
10,712
616Lowest
19,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
-2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
50.6±9.5Highest
27% above MA
42.3±2.1Lowest
6% above MA
Plainfield 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%
19%±9.3
MA: 19.4%
28.5%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Sudbury and Plainfield 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%
29.5%±7.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
52.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Plainfield and Sudbury 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
$63,500±$14kLowest
39% below MA
$236,250±$17kHighest
127% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31k
6% below MA
$309,000±$47kLowest
45% below MA
$988,900±$42kHighest
76% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
$1,292±$558Lowest
27% below MA
$1,445±$895
18% below MA
Maynard and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266
38% above MA
$4,458Lowest
26% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.8%±12.1
MA: 51.8%
Maynard and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
MA: 10%
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98%Highest
MA: 62.5%
89.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1977Highest
13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8.8
MA: 18.6%
33%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Sudbury and Plainfield 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 — #15 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard — Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury
High school in town Maynard High — Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
—
11.3Highest
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.