Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Rye vs Northampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
10,712 |
5,611 |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye 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 54% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Maynard and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Maynard | Rye School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High | None in town | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.7 |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.