Compare towns

Maynard vs Upton vs Wakefield

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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

MeasureMaynardUptonWakefield
People
Population
10,712
8,189Lowest
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
42.4±1.7Lowest
6% above MA
Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
20%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Wakefield 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
19%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Wakefield 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%
53.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
59.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Wakefield 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±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$134,306±$14k
29% above MA
Upton and Wakefield 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
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$723,500±$24kHighest
29% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$1,958±$102Highest
11% above MA
Wakefield 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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$7,779Lowest
30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Maynard 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%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
33 min
14% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Wakefield 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 #46 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Maynard High Blackstone Valley Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
11.2Highest
10.7
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.