Compare towns
Hadley vs Cambridge 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).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Rowley has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Cambridge | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
118,796Highest |
10,712 |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 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% |
80.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$130,748±$4k 26% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,802Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
12.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Cambridge and Maynard 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 | #122 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Cambridge | Maynard | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Cambridge Rindge and Latin | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.3 |
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.