Compare towns
Hadley vs Meredith vs Boylston
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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Meredith | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306 |
6,758Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.2±2.3 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boylston and Hadley 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Boylston 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$140,962±$28kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 54% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$578,600±$47kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Boylston 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,032±$350Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,266Highest 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Boylston 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Boylston 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Inter-Lakes High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.