Compare towns
Hadley vs Hatfield vs Reading 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).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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 | Hatfield | Reading | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
3,325Lowest |
25,612Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Reading 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Maynard and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Hatfield | — | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Smith Academy | — | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
6.1Lowest |
— | 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.