Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Essex
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%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Maynard | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,712Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45±3.4Lowest 13% 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%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex 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±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Essex 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Essex 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%Highest MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex 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 | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Maynard | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.