Compare towns

Fairhaven 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

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k 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.

MeasureFairhavenHadleyMaynard
People
Population
15,903Highest
5,306Lowest
10,712
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.5±3.4Highest
21% above MA
45.8±7.1
15% above MA
45.3±4.3Lowest
13% above MA
Fairhaven and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
24.9%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Fairhaven and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,965±$19kLowest
8% 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
$446,700±$19kLowest
21% 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
$1,118±$79Lowest
37% below MA
$1,402±$132
20% below MA
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,566Lowest
40% below MA
$5,271
12% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.1%±14Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6
MA: 51.8%
Fairhaven and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.4%
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
20 minLowest
33% below MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
Work from home
11.4%±3.3Lowest
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 #126 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA
School district Fairhaven Hadley Maynard
High school in town Fairhaven High Hopkins Academy Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
7.3Lowest
9.7
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.