Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Plainfield 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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Maynard | Plainfield | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,712 |
616Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Hadley 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 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±$132 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 12% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$5,680 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Northampton 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 | — | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | — | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
— | — | 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.