Compare towns
Hadley vs Maynard vs Townsend vs Hatfield
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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hatfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Townsend | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
10,712Highest |
9,100 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Maynard and Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Maynard and Townsend 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Maynard | North Middlesex | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Maynard High | North Middlesex Regional | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
9.7 |
13.1Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.