Compare towns
Hadley vs Dalton vs Maynard
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).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
6,256 |
10,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Dalton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hadley 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below 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 | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% 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 | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Central Berkshire | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Wahconah Regional High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
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.