Compare towns
Hadley vs Natick vs Maynard 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).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Natick | Maynard | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
36,873Highest |
10,712 |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Rowley 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% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Natick and Rowley 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 |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Natick | Maynard | Triton |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Natick High | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
9.7 |
— |
| 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.