Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Needham vs Boylston
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).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Boylston has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Maynard | Needham | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,712 |
32,459Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,032±$350 15% above MA |
| Needham and Boylston 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | — | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | — | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.