Compare towns
Hadley vs Brookline vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
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 | Hadley | Brookline | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
531Lowest |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hadley and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,067±$16kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 54% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$527,400±$31kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard and Brookline 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.