Compare towns
Peru vs Maynard vs Florida vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Peru | Maynard | Florida | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
10,712Highest |
668 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Washington 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 | — | — | Florida | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.