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.
| Measure | Maynard | Upton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.

