Compare towns
Boylston vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Webster | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
17,748Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Boylston and Hadley 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 |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Webster | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Bartlett High School | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.6Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.