Compare towns
Hadley vs Dedham vs Maynard vs Hatfield
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Dedham | Maynard | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
25,237Highest |
10,712 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Dedham | Maynard | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Dedham High | Maynard High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
10.4Highest |
9.7 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.