Compare towns
Middlefield vs Maynard vs Florida vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Maynard | Florida | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352Lowest |
10,712Highest |
668 |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
| Maynard and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Middlefield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
82.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Middlefield 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Maynard | Florida | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.