Compare towns
Gardner 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
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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.
| Measure | Gardner | Hadley | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,306Lowest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
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 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% 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 | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% 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 | $1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Hadley | Maynard |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.