Compare towns
Boylston vs Ogunquit vs Shrewsbury vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Boylston | Ogunquit | Shrewsbury | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948 |
1,379Lowest |
38,876Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
| Boylston and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k 74% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 44% above U.S. |
— | $2,116±$98Highest 50% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Shrewsbury and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boylston and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | — | #30 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Shrewsbury | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | — | Shrewsbury High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 14.4Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.