Compare towns
Maynard vs Shirley 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Shirley | Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,976Lowest |
19,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Maynard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$988,900±$42kHighest 76% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,445±$895Lowest 18% below MA |
| Maynard and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sudbury 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #15 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Ayer Shirley School District | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | 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.