Compare towns
Boylston vs Rowley vs Maynard vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Maynard has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Rowley | Maynard | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
6,251 |
10,712Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley 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 36% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Boylston and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Triton | Maynard | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | None in town | Maynard High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.7 |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.