Compare towns
Ayer vs Hadley vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Ayer | Hadley | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
5,306Lowest |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ayer and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hadley | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hopkins Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.