Compare towns
Hadley vs Norton vs Maynard
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).
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Norton | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
19,240Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard 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% |
17.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Norton 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Maynard 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% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Norton 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±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Norton 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 |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% 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±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Norton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$5,929 about the MA average |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Norton 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Norton | Maynard |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Norton High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.