Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Dedham | Maynard | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,712 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% 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 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Hadley |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 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.