Compare towns
Hadley vs Ashby vs Maynard vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
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 | Hadley | Ashby | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
3,211Lowest |
10,712Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50±6.3 25% above MA |
| Ashby and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,200±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | North Middlesex | Maynard | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.