Compare towns
Boxborough 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
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Boxborough | Hadley | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496 |
5,306Lowest |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
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%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kHighest 39% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Boxborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72kHighest 26% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Boxborough and Maynard 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxborough and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 | #31 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hadley | Maynard |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.

