Compare towns

Maynard vs Ware 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 people working from home (22.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.

MeasureMaynardWareNorthborough
People
Population
10,712
10,048Lowest
15,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
45±3
13% above MA
Maynard and Northborough 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%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Northborough and Ware 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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Ware 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%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
65.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Northborough and Ware 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
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$153,199±$19kHighest
47% above MA
Northborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31k
6% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$620,000±$24kHighest
10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% 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
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
$7,983
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.1%±16.3
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
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 minHighest
9% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
31 min
7% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Maynard and Northborough 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 #267 of 282 in MA #35 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Ware Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town Maynard High Ware Junior/Senior High School Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
11.1Highest
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.