Compare towns
Wenham vs Maynard vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Maynard | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
10,712Highest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Maynard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Wenham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
| Maynard and Bolton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.