What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayland has the most expensive homes ($978k median).

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayland	Maynard
People
Population	13,914Highest	10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wayland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wayland and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average
	Maynard and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,266Lowest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Maynard and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 282 in MA	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Wayland	Maynard
High school in town	Wayland High School	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.