Compare towns
Hadley vs Dighton vs Maynard vs Northampton
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).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).
Northampton has the most renters (42.7% rent).
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 | Dighton | Maynard | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
8,193 |
10,712 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| 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%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Northampton 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% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Hadley 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 |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| Dighton 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 |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% 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±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Maynard | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Bristol County Agricultural High | Maynard High | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.9 |
9.7 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.