Compare towns
Hadley vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k 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 | Halifax | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
7,748 |
10,712Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above 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%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Rowley 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Halifax and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,840 14% above 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% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Halifax | Maynard | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | 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.