Compare towns
Hadley vs Preston vs Maynard vs Hatfield
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).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Preston | Maynard | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
4,821 |
10,712Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.8±5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Hatfield and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Preston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Hatfield 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. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Maynard 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. |
$361,900±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Maynard and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,930 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #166 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Preston School District | Maynard | Hatfield |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | None in town | Maynard High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
— | 9.7Highest |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.