Compare towns

Dudley 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

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

MeasureDudleyHadleyMaynard
People
Population
11,929Highest
5,306Lowest
10,712
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.2±2.4Lowest
about the MA average
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
20.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
Dudley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±3Lowest
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+
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dudley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,604±$12kLowest
19% below MA
$119,259±$12k
15% above MA
$124,067±$16kHighest
19% above MA
Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$392,600±$19kLowest
30% below MA
$511,000±$43k
9% below MA
$527,400±$31kHighest
6% below MA
Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,217±$182Lowest
31% below MA
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,691Lowest
38% below MA
$5,271
12% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
Dudley and Maynard 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%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
75%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
6% below MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
9.1%±2.5Lowest
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 #142 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg Hadley —
High school in town Shepherd Hill Regional High Hopkins Academy —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
7.3Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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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.