Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Oakham 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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
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 | Maynard | Oakham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,712Highest |
1,639Lowest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Oakham 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Rowley 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±$16k 19% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Rowley 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Maynard 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Maynard | Quabbin | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High | None in town | 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.