Compare towns

Maynard vs Scituate 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k 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.

MeasureMaynardScituateNorthborough
People
Population
10,712Lowest
19,365Highest
15,750
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
47.1±3.1Highest
18% above MA
45±3Lowest
13% above MA
Scituate 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%
22.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±2.8
MA: 19.4%
Scituate and Northborough 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%
22.2%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Scituate 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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Northborough and Scituate 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
$136,732±$16k
32% above MA
$153,199±$19kHighest
47% above MA
Northborough and Scituate 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
$847,600±$25kHighest
51% above MA
$620,000±$24k
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$1,609±$311Lowest
9% 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
$8,266
38% above MA
$8,807Highest
47% above MA
$7,983Lowest
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.7%±10.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3
MA: 51.8%
Scituate 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%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
38 minHighest
31% above MA
31 minLowest
7% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Scituate and Maynard 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 #43 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Scituate Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town Maynard High Scituate High School Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
11.3Highest
10.8
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.