What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Maynard	Sheffield
People
Population	10,712Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA
	Sheffield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Maynard and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sheffield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA
	Maynard and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average	$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA
	Sheffield 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	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Maynard and Sheffield 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#166 of 282 in MA	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	Maynard High	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.